Katie George Dunlevy piloted by Linda Kelly strikes Gold in the Para Cycling road race B Time Trial

Katie George Dunlevy has struck gold in the Para Cycling road race, B Time Trial. Adding to her bronze medal, Katie George, piloted by Linda Kelly put in a fantastic stint on the bike, covering 28.3km in a time of 38.16.58.  

When asked could she put into words how she was feeling Katie George laughed and said, “Pain is the word!” 

“It was a really, really challenging course. Really technical. I thought we were going to come off a few times but that’s racing for you. You’re on the limit. We knew the course suited us, the uphill sections suited us so we had to really go over on our power on those hill parts because that was where we’d get time on the other bikes and I think we delivered a really good ride.” 

“Even on the second lap we were able to push out big power on those hills. When we heard we were down on the first lap I thought ‘keep going, just keep going’.” 

“I’ve been in many races where it’s not over ‘til you cross that line so you’ve just got to keep going and just hope the other bikes maybe fade. You’ve just got to keep strong, keep racing, keep believing, just keep racing to that finish line.” 

“When I heard we were up I was just trying to relax and push and feel what Linda was doing in front and just try and be as aero (dynamic) as I could be behind her, tucked in. I’m just so proud of her. We had pressure on us. I was trying to retain my title from Tokyo, she knew that. “ 

“Linda came on board last year and she’s done so well with so much pressure on her today to deliver but I believed in her, believed in every pedal stroke. She had concussion in May so had time off the bike. She had a lot of challenges this year, we both did so for us to come away with the win, I’m just very emotional now. I can’t quite believe this!” 

On how she felt becoming Olympic champion, Linda said, “It’s magic, it’s just like a dream. I can’t believe it. It’s going to take a while to sink in. I’m just so happy. We both put the work in, it’s been a roller-coaster of a year with Katie’s collarbone and my concussion. I’m just so proud of Katie; how she recovered from the broken collarbone. She put the work in. She wanted to be here. She just wanted to win. We both had the same ambition. I’m absolutely thrilled, just over the moon.” 

Josephine Healion piloted by Eve McCrystal, was also competing in the B Time Trial today. Their time of 41.57.61 left them in 5th place. 

Josephine Healion said, “I couldn’t have done anymore, it was really tough, really hard course. It was hot but we got through it and I’m happy with that. The girls won, (Katie and Linda) huge congratulations to them.”  

Eve McCrystal, pilot said, “I’m wrecked, it was a really tough course, I enjoyed it, it was hot it was tough, I liked the course though. Her first Paralympics Games, I’m very proud of this one and she’s just a star and she will only continue to grow and a huge congratulations to Katie and Linda on their race too.” 

There was a busy schedule on the morning of day seven for Team Ireland Para Cycling athletes with Richael Timothy competing in the C1-3 Individual Time Trial first thing. Damien Vereker & Mitchell McLaughlin were also in action in the Men’s B Individual Time Trial and Ronan Grimes was competing in the C4 Individual Time Trial.

Richael Timothy once again was the first of the Team Ireland riders out on course. The Galway native who made her Paralympic debut in Tokyo competed in the Women’s C1-3 Individual Time Trial. She completed the 14.1km circuit in a time of 24:32.40 to finish in 12th position.  

Speaking afterwards Timothy was happy with her performance, using it as an opportunity to familiarise herself with the course ahead of Saturday’s Road Race. 

“It’s a tough course, it’s technical enough. There are two drags in the course and then some uphill. I caught the two people in front of me, they are in different categories than me, so it was hard to know where you were. Road race is my main event, so I was just happy to get out there and get a run at the course.” 

Ronan Grimes came in 8th place with a time of 39:01.83 in the C4 Individual Time Trial.

He said, “During the race, I thought I could be on for a good result but then when I got over the finish line and saw, I thought I was just not at the races, really. I don’t know why, I was pushing hard. It’s really hard to know where you are when on the course, I caught the person who went out a minute before me so I thought I was doing well. I pushed hard on the climbs. I thought I was going well but maybe the others were just better. I’m disappointed with the result but my form has been good and I was confident going into this race but it just didn’t happen for me. Overall, the experience (at the Paralympics) has been great.” 

Damien Vereker & Mitchell McLaughlin were also in action in the Men’s B Individual Time Trial coming in 7th place with a time of 36.31.09. 

Damien said, “It was really hot, we didn’t want to give everything on the first hill we wanted to reserve something for the second lap. ”  

Mitchell said, “The road race on Friday is our main event so it was good to get out today and get a look at the course.” 

On the track, Shauna Bocquet was competing in the T54 100m Heat 2. Her time of 17.00 came agonisingly close to qualifying for the final. She missed out by just 0.10 seconds 

She said, “The 100m is not my favourite. It’s very short, so by the time you start – it’s over. I definitely prefer the longer distances, but I enjoyed that.” 

“It was okay, it didn’t go how I planned it to go, but I’m happy. I went into it ready to go and looking forward to it because it’s my last event here in Paris, so all in for it. I’ve loved my time here in Paris. I loved the race and the whole experience around the village and around everything. I have a few days now to just relax and take in the whole experience even more.” 

Elsewhere Galway’s Sarah Slattery became the third Irish Para dressage rider to agonisingly miss out a place in the Freestyle finals by just one place. 

The 34-year-old from Tynagh and her 16-year-old bay mare Savona produced a brilliant test to score 68.401% and finish ninth in the Individual Grade V. That was just one place and 1.6% short of making the top eight who will contest Saturday’s Freestyle finals. 

Speaking immediately afterwards Slattery said, “That was absolutely amazing, it was just the best venue, the best weather, the best crowd and atmosphere. To have all this on my Paralympic debut, and to get such an amazing score with my horse, I just could not ask for more. I am so happy.” 

“She had a little stumble behind in our first ‘shoulder in’ and the score dropped a little but we got it right back up again,” she explained.  

“There’s 30 more movements in a dressage test, so you have to stay going and we recovered. The extended trot is her party piece and that was her showing off at the end. I just sit there and enjoy it,” she laughed.  

She paid special tribute to her “crew” supporting her in Paris. “My mum Linda, who started training me in dressage, is my groom here, and my sister Sophie has been helping me day-to-day. Then there’s my husband Jonathon (Madden) and my two girls, Harlow (14) and Millie. I literally couldn’t do this without the crew, especially when you’ve two kids and the baby is only one and a half.” 

Slattery could be back in action again on Friday when three of Ireland’s four riders will contest the Paralympic Team event. Team selection is expected to be confirmed on Thursday. 

 Day 7 Paralympics Games Morning Results (Wednesday 4th September) 

 Day 8 Paralympics Games Schedule (Thursday 5th September) (times subject to change) 

*pending qualifying results