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Lauren Parker becomes first Australian Paralympian to win gold medals in two sports

Lauren Parker becomes first Australian Paralympian to win gold medals in two sports

IMPORTANT POINTS
  • Lauren Parker won a Paralympic gold medal in the H1-4 road race in Paris on Thursday.
  • After also coming first in the PTWC1 triathlon, she became Australia’s first dual-sport gold medalist in 48 years.
  • Day eight also saw Vanessa Low and Timothy Hodge win gold in the T63 long jump and S9 200m individual medley.
Lauren Parker continues to rewrite the history books, leaving behind a legion of followers on her way to winning Paralympic gold in road cycling.
Just one day after finishing the H1-3 individual time trial with a silver medal, the Australian returned to the Paris satellite city of Clichy-sous-Bois to win the H1-4 road race on Thursday (local time).
Parker’s victory follows his gold medal in the PTWC1 triathlon, making him the first Australian to win multiple gold medals in different sports at the same Games since Eric Russell in 1976.
“I’m so excited. I really can’t believe what I’ve accomplished at these Games,” Parker said.
“Two golds and a silver – I couldn’t be happier.
“Two golds is my favourite. It was a long journey to get there in triathlon.

“And I’m so proud of my performance today (in the road race), it all means the world to me.”

A woman competes in a para cycling race.

Australian Lauren Parker won the women’s H1-4 road race gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in Paris. Source: AAP / Greg Smith

Parker later revealed that he had been struggling with stomach upset after swallowing water from the River Seine.

The water quality of the Seine River has been a much-talked about topic throughout both the Olympics and Paralympics.
The Parker triathlon, in which athletes swim a 750-metre section of the river, was postponed for 24 hours due to water quality.
“I wasn’t feeling my best before the time trial and today,” Parker said.
“I was having a lot of nausea and things like that.

“It was from swimming in the river in the triathlon but I chose to push it aside, I had a job to do. I just got it done.”

Parker’s historic achievements were also warmly welcomed by Russell, who won three gold medals in the discus, shot put and pentathlon at the Toronto Games 48 years ago.
“He’s a fantastic player, there’s no doubt about that and I’ve enjoyed watching him immensely,” he told AAP.

“I think it’s a great thing he did… Records are meant to be broken!”

Vanessa Low wins long jump gold and sets her sights higher

On day seven in Paris, long jumper Vanessa Low aims to break the six-metre barrier as she looks to win a third consecutive Paralympic gold medal.

Her closest rival, silver medallist Martina Carboni, jumped just 5.06 metres, further cementing 34-year-old Low’s dominance in the sport.

But despite winning three consecutive gold medals representing both Germany and Australia, Low said he wanted to keep driving for more.
“I like to put myself on the big stage and I think I can jump six feet,” he said.
“I think that’s my next big goal, the six is ​​possible, I want to break down the barriers.

“When I first started the sport we were 4.5 metres and now we are all pushing the limits.”

‘It was all worth it’: Swimmer Timothy Hodge wins individual gold medal

Meanwhile, swimmer Timothy Hodge came first in the S9 200m individual medley.

Hodge, who lost his right foot as a child, said he once told his family that he would never be good at anything.

The athlete, who played a role in Australia’s gold medal win in the 100-meter relay with 34 points, also has two gold medals from Paris.

“When I told my family, they said, ‘No, we’ll find something I’m good at,'” Hodge said.
“It was something they worked their whole lives to give me the best opportunities and find the things I was good at.

“I’m very proud to say that all the hard times and everything was worth it.”