The first of Ireland's cyclists into action at the Paralympic Games, Richael Timothy, has placed 10th in her individual pursuit and also recorded a personal best time during her ride today.
The Irishwoman was
up against Austrian rider Yvonne Marzinke in the C1-3 3000 metre pursuit race
at the Izu Velodrome near Shizouka in Japan.
She clocked a
time of 4.11.699, which was almost
14 seconds off her previous best of 4.25.18, and had caught and passed her
Austrian rival by the third lap.
That time saw Timothy finish 9th in the title race, with the gold won by Paige Greco (Australia), in a new world record of 3:50.815. Xiaomei of China took silver while German rider Denise Schindler took the bronze.
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'I came her to go faster than I ever have and I've gone faster than I ever have before - that's all I can do'
Richael Timothy reflects on shaving 14 seconds off her PB in the C1-C3 3000m individual pursuit.
Updates: https://t.co/u1LGceBjQY
Report: https://t.co/qLu0x7ma4V pic.twitter.com/QDN8W9j9n0— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 25, 2021
“I’m delighted to be honest to get a PB, that’s what I came here to do. I can’t focus on what anyone else is doing so for me to get a PB is brilliant,” Timothy said.
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“This is
my first event at a Paralympic Games. I only got on the team two years ago, it
is just a case of getting the first event over with. To catch her was a bit of a shock.
“I’ve been
caught in the past and I know the feeling. To catch her early really gave me a
boost. I just went as hard as I could and that was all I could do.
“With my impairment my right side is weaker - on the
track it’s about getting it up and going and keeping the tempo going. It
is a bit slow to get started but once I’m moving then it is about keeping on
top of it.
“Three kilometres doesn’t sound that long, but on a track you are constantly pushing. I’m just delighted, a PB is great. I am so new to the sport it was just important to get that and get one performance under my belt and then push onto the other events."
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