Nat Bromhead
Australia has kicked off the Tokyo Paralympic Games in the best possible way with double gold – medals and world records to Paige Greco and Emily Petricola.
24yo Greco of South Australia set a new world record of 3:52.283 in the Women’s C1-3 3000m Individual Pursuit (IP) qualifying.
She beat that time by almost 2-seconds in the final, posting 3:50.815.
“I’m just so happy. I can’t believe that we did it,” Greco said.
“I can’t thank the team at AusCycling and my coach (enough), their support is just amazing, as well as my family and friends – I wouldn’t be here without them.”
World Records Tumble
41yo Emily Petricola of Victoria won gold in the Women’s C4 3000m individual pursuit and set the new world record time of 3:38.061 in qualifying.
“I’m so surprised that just happened,” she said after the win.
“I didn’t know where she was, I had no idea – it’s shocking. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to Matt Ryan and Shane Kelly for what they did for me early on in the piece. They’ve changed my life and they saved my life; I was in such a dark place when Matt suggested this.”
“I honestly am so shocked,” she concluded.
