Olympic Champion and World-Record Holder Kadeena Cox crashed out of the Women’s C4-5 500m time trial final this afternoon.
Cox (33) came onto the track at The Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines as the defending Paralympic Champion and C4 World Record holder in this event. The gold winner in Rio and Tokyo, she received resounding applause from French spectators in the velodrome. Cox looked set for glory in the first medal event of the Games having qualified in second with a factored time of 35.436.
Disaster struck seemingly from the offset, as a shaky Cox strayed into the grey zone before falling onto the track at the first corner. Having removed her helmet and been unstrapped from the bike, Cox was helped off the track. She was denied a restart under UCI rules as no mechanical fault was observed.
The ParalympicsGB cycling team confirmed that Cox was unable to control the bike at the start of the race due to a symptom of her MS. In the aftermath, she appeared devastated and was consoled by her coaches.
Having recovered composure, Cox said “It was a weird one, I didn’t feel comfortable in the gate. With a condition like mine, riding can’t always be perfect and it was all over the shop”
“The fact that I got here was amazing in itself, I’m just gutted that I was able to ride a ride that was pretty great in the first round and then not go out there and show what I’m capable of.”
Teammate Daphne Schrager, who won silver in the Women’s C1-3 3000m, said “It’s just bitterly disappointing and I know that she’s deeply upset but unfortunately, it’s part of the sport.
“I’m gutted for her because she was the one that first got me into it. I hope the whole team can pick her back up.
“She’s a resilient character and a great person, so she’ll be back for team sprint. They’ll be back with a bang and I know everyone will cheer her on.”
The uncharacteristic track outing follows a bumpy Games preparation for Cox, who tore a muscle in her calf “pretty badly” in July. The injury wiped her out of competing in the athletics events, where Cox has also won multiple medals, and interrupted her training.
At holding camp in Manchester, Cox said “I’d like to go out there and defend those titles. I’ve not been able to do the same level of cycling as I’ve wanted to do and it feels harder just to be doing the one sport. But I’m going to keep holding onto the faith that when it matters, I will come good.”
“My shoes for the Games have phoenixes painted on them, because I feel like I’ve risen from the ashes so many times. We’re all going to get setbacks in life, but it’s how you overcome them that shows your true character.”
The new Paralympic Champion in the 500m time trial is Caroline Groot of the Netherlands, who also set a new C5 World Record of 35.390 in qualification. Of her win, the first medal of the Games, she said “I’m very happy with this medal, very happy and tired. The world record in qualification was perfect.
“I hoped I could be faster in the final. But it’s OK, I’m very happy with the gold medal. That’s the only thing that counts.”
Silver went to France’s Marie Patouillet in front of the home crowd, and Canada’s Kate O’Brien took the bronze.
Cox will have another shot at the podium on Sunday in the Open C1-5 750m team sprint.
by Lauren Lethbridge, ADJ Diploma Student