Para-cyclist Meg Lemon on track for 2020 Games berth
Five years ago a young South Australian’s life was up-ended when she was hit by a car. Read about her recovery and her aim to earn a berth at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- A brain injury hasn’t stopped Meg Lemon’s love of sport and cycling
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Nearly five years ago Meg Lemon’s life was turned on its head after being hit by a car while on her way to work at a local hospital in Darwin.
Lemon, then 25, was knocked unconscious for about 30 minutes and left with a permanent brain injury.
The dietitian soon found that the consequent brain trauma weakened the right side of her body, forcing her to relearn everyday activities as part of her rehabilitation.
Stream over 50 sports live & anytime on your TV or favourite device with KAYO SPORTS. The biggest Aussie sports and the best from overseas. Just $25/month. No lock-in contract. Get your 14 day free trial here >
Convinced to get back on a bike by her physio at the time, Lemon returned to SA to be near family.
On the path to recovery but still at loose ends where her life was heading Lemon then grasped a chance to pursue high-level sport as a para-athlete with the SA Sports Institute.
Now, in 2019, and under the guidance of coach Loz Shaw for the past two years, Lemon has a handful of medals under her belt at various world titles.
She also has just been selected for the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championship in Melton, Canada, in January next year.
World champions Darren Hicks and Paige Greco are the other South Aussies on the eight-person team. Lemon also is some chance to make the team for the Tokyo Olympics.
While the past has brought up plenty of challenges the 30-year-old is focused on what is in front of her.
“Making the (Olympics) team would be the biggest achievement in my life to date,” Lemon said.
“It’d be a way of giving back to the people who have supported me through a pretty hard time.”
Lemon, of Seacliff, and a Port Adelaide Cycling Club member, said she was thrilled with the way this year had worked out and her selection for the world titles.
“I’m pretty stoked to make a very prestigious team full of world champions,” Lemon said.
“I feel honoured that SASI and Cycling Australia have continued to invest time and resources into developing me to improve and keep smashing goals hopefully.
“There is still a lot of work to be done with a track C1 event in December then a time trial, followed by a return to Ballarat for road national, then a couple of special Tour Down Under events.
“Also we (SA cycling team) have been lucky to have had a system invested by SASI called a FullGaz which simulates the road nationals time trial course (Ballarat) and also the one in Tokyo which hopefully will give us a big heads up.”