Enduring success

Paralympic silver medalist and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Lauren Parker has won her first paratriathlon race of the year at the Oceania Triathlon Para Championships Stockton in Newcastle, Australia, writes Lisa Pringle.

After kicking off the year in para-cycling and topping the Australia Cycling Nationals in Ballarat and UCI Road World Cup in Adelaide, Parker, a member of the Bahrain Victorious team, returned to proving her prowess across swim, bike and run winning in Newcastle for the sixth time.

“I was racing myself today, but it was great to get out there and get a good hit-out to start the year. First paratriathlon of the season and I’ve got a big year ahead,” said Parker.

“I’m always working on something, especially transitions. It was great to get out there today and practice transitions with Dave Robbo, my handler.”

Parker has made it her goal to qualify not just for one event but for three at the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris: the individual paratriathlon, as well as the road race and time trial events in para-cycling.

Last year she was named to the Australian para-cycling team and won the UCI world title in the time trial to become the first to hold concurrent world titles in paratriathlon and para-cycling. This year she looks to keep building on those achievements.

She added, “I’ve started the year really well with some cycling races in January. I won the [UCI Para-cycling Road] World Cup in Adelaide so… it’s really looking promising towards Paris.”