Paratriathlon Lauren Parker on top of the world, Lorcan Redmond wins junior silver
Lauren Parker always said the world championship win was her priority this season. So she went into her race at Lausanne determined to medal.
The Newcastle News
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Less than a year to the start of the Paralympics, Newcastle triathlete Lauren Parker has struck gold and she’s feeling “unreal”.
The Australian paratriathlon star, hindered by a season of health issues, raced off with her first world title in Lausanne just two years after taking up the sport she hopes will see her race at next year’s Paralympics in Tokyo.
The result has made Parker the star of an Australian triathlon team whose elite athletes have failed to win a gold in any other race in Lausanne.
Fellow Novacastrian Lorcan Redmond, 19, came closest with his silver medal in the men’s junior triathlon over the weekend.
“I can’t even put into words how I’m feeling, I’m just so happy,” Parker said after her race.
“The whole day went my way starting off from a great swim. I felt great on the bike and great on the run as well.”
Also delighted was coach Dan Atkins who “got a lot of goosebumps out there and got a bit emotional.’’
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“It’s been a really hard road for Loz and we’ve been preparing for this race for well over a year now,’’ he said.
“We targeted it and executed it absolutely perfectly. I’m one happy coach.”
Parker indicated she had the form to win just a fortnight ago in Tokyo where she won bronze in the Paralympic test event.
Lauren Parker, who set up her victory with a powerful swim which saw her exit the water in second place, finished more than two minutes ahead of American Kendall Gretsch and Germany’s Christiane Reppe.
Parker’s teammate and defending world champion Emily Tapp finished sixth on the touch course.
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ITU World Paratriathlon Grand Final: Australian results
1st Lauren Parker (PTWC)
5th Sally Pilbeam (PTS4)
6th Emily Tapp (PTWC)
6th Kate Doughty (PTS5)
7th Jonathan Goerlach (PTVI)
8th Katie Kelly (PTVI)
8th David Bryant (PTS5)
9th Nic Beveridge (PTWC)
10th Clint Pickin (PTS4)
12th Liam Twomey (PTS4)