Sarah Storey clinches her 19th Paralympic gold medal in cycling road race with a final sprint effort

British cyclist Sarah Storey won her 19th gold medal at the Paralympic Games, taking first place in the women’s C4-5 road race in Paris. Storey, 46, crossed the finish line just ahead of French cyclist Heidi Gaugain after completing the 71-kilometer race in 1 hour, 54 minutes, and 24 seconds. Storey mentioned that she understood Gaugain’s attack in French, allowing her to respond and ultimately secure the victory.

Colombia’s Paula Andrea Ossa Veloza claimed the bronze medal, finishing 20 seconds behind Storey, while Samantha Bosco of the United States finished fourth, trailing by 2 minutes and 39 seconds. Storey had previously won the C5 individual time trial, earning her 18th gold medal at the Paralympics earlier in the week.

In a remarkable feat, the China team set a world record in the 4×100-meter universal relay during the para athletics heats, clocking an impressive 45.09 seconds to qualify for the final. The mixed-gender and mixed-disability relay includes visually impaired, amputee, cerebral palsy, and wheelchair athletes. China’s relay team consisted of Zhou Guohua, Wang Hao, Wen Xiaoyan, and Hu Yang, surpassing the previous record set by the United States at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

China’s relay team will face off against the United States, Britain, and Japan in the final, where they aim to continue their outstanding performance. The Paralympic Games in Paris mark Storey’s ninth appearance in the games, highlighting her enduring success as a Paralympic athlete.