PARIS PARALYMPICS 2024: Amanda Reid seals back-to-back para-cycling gold medals

Amanda Reid could not hide her delight as she continued Australia’s strong form at the velodrome, defending her C1-3 500m time trial Paralympic gold medal in style.

Reid sealed one of Australia’s two gold medals picked up on Saturday in Paris, with table tennis duo Lina Lei and Qian Yang winning their women’s doubles WD20 final against Chinese Taipei.

The back-to-back triumph was particularly significant for Reid, who became the first Indigenous Australian to seal a gold medal when she won the same race at Tokyo three years ago.

The 28-year-old raced through her two laps on Saturday for a factored time of 36.676 to ensure she will be Paralympic champion until Los Angeles in four years.

Reid’s first place added to the two golds won by Korey Boddington and Emily Petricola at the Paris’s National Velodrome 24 hours earlier.

Reid, who has cerebral palsy, told reporters the result was particularly gratifying after she had been plagued by a back injury over the last year.

“That was absolutely amazing considering the 12-plus months I’ve had,” Reid said.

“I just came in to go as fast as I could and I ended up going back to back gold, which is amazing.”

Reid added: “This will mean so much more because of everything that I have had to overcome.”

The cyclist’s haul came after Australia’s track stars had got things rolling earlier in the day at the Stade de France.

After Jaryd Clifford was disqualified from winning bronze, Madison de Rozario finished third in the T54 5000m final before Michael Roeger grabbed a silver medal in the T46 1500m.

Elsewhere, in the pool at La Defense Arena, Jack Ireland finished with a bronze medal and set an Oceania record in the men’s 200m freestyle S14 final.

But it wasn’t until late in the night that Australia had a second gold medal when the Chinese-born duo Lina and Qian grabbed a 11-7, 11-6, 2-11, 12-10 win.

Coach Maggie Meng said the pair’s strong personal connection has meant they are in sync whenever they play with one another.

“On the table, they have been playing with each other for years, and off the table they’re the best of friends,” Meng said.

“Qian is mentality is so strong, and Lina is just so experienced.

“They play like one person, there’s no gaps between them.”

The medal was Qian’s seventh Paralympic medal, the 28-year-old having won three while competing for China.

Lina, meanwhile, picked up her 10th Paralympic medal and said the chance to do it alongside her childhood friend held extra significance.

“It’s exciting to get our first doubles gold medal. it’s a different meaning for us, because last time in Tokyo, we only got single medals,” Lina said.

“I got a lot of medals, but every time I still feel a different meaning ... we are very close friends, we know each other from when Qian was a child.”