Beau Wootton wins national rode race title in honour of mentor, the late Kieran Modra
“I just feel like he’s there on my shoulder, telling me to work harder”. Kieran Modra’s death rocked Beau Wootton two months ago, but now he’s reaching new heights inspired by his mentor.
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Two months ago Beau Wootton’s world was rocked, like many in the cycling community, when he heard the news that his friend and mentor Kieran Modra had died.
The five-time Paralympic gold medallist was the person who was his hero growing up and inspired Wootton to get into the sport.
So it made it even more special for the 21-year-old, who is legally blind, when he crossed the line in Ballarat to win the men’s tandem national road cycling title on January 11.
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Wootton, like Modra, was born with optic atrophy – a genetic vision impairment condition which interferes with the eye receiving messages from the brain.
But that was not the only link the pair shared.
With Modra in his mind, Wootton and his pilot rider, Michael Hoile, powered to victory in the Ballarat road race in one hour and 33 minutes, one minute and 29 seconds ahead of their nearest rival.
He gives Hoile plenty of credit as a great teammate to guide him so he can be the “motor on the back”.
But all the time there was a helping hand from Modra.
“Racing on the weekend, I was doing it for him as well as myself,” Wootton, of Seaford, says.
“In my head now I just feel like he’s there on my shoulder, telling me to work harder.
“That’s what I had going through my head on race day.
“You’re doing it for Kieran and you’re doing it for yourself after all the hard work.”
Wootton started serious cycling at about 14 years old but had 18 months off the sport after finishing school.
Before a phone call from Modra enticed him back and training began again in May.
He said the 47-year-old’s unexpected death in November shocked the cycling community
“I first met him about 10 years ago when I was at the South Australia School for Vision Impaired and when he was racing in the Comm Games,” he says.
“He would go into the school and show the kids his medals and was a big inspiration for everyone.
“We grew together and connected so well.
“But when he died, that was a very upsetting time. Everyone was just speechless.
“It was like ‘what do we do now without him?’
“Because he was such an inspiration to the team, not just on the bike, but talking to you about riding as well.
“It was a very hard time to get back on the bike too. I had a week off after it happened.
“But I’m super glad I did the work and got back on the bike.
“I put everything into it for the last four months, really put the hammer down and focused on training.
“It took a little bit to sink in, that I was actually the one on top of the podium.”
Wootton says he is eyeing a berth at the world championships in the future, along with continuing to try his hand at any local races.