Five-time gold medallist Kieran Modra facing unusual ‘first’ in storied Paralympics career
KIERAN Modra has never had a smoother preparation for a Paralympic Games but the flawless lead-in has the seven-time Paralympian concerned.
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KIERAN Modra has never had a smoother preparation for a Paralympic Games — and the flawless lead-in has him concerned.
“Because I haven’t had to deal with any trauma or accidents,” the veteran of seven Games grins.
“When I rode with my wife in 1996 we had a crash the day before our race and in 2000 my preparation was too intense. I had court issues in 2004 and team issues in 2008, and then crashed before London.
“So instead of worrying about those things, I’m almost panicking — ‘have I taken all the steps and is everything in place on the track?’.”
Modra, 44, was named in Australia’s 16-person cycling team for the Rio Paralympics, as the countdown to this year’s event ticked to 100 days.
The five-time Paralympics gold medallist, a visually impaired athlete, contested his first Games in Barcelona, in 1992, when he won two bronze medals in swimming.
His switch to cycling was immediately rewarded in Atlanta in 1996, when he secured his maiden Paralympics gold with wife Kerry as pilot in the 200m mixed tandem sprint.
Modra has won gold for his classification in his pet event, the 4000m individual pursuit, at the past three Games, including his latest in an all-Australian final over Bryce Lindores four years ago.
Modra clocked a world record 4min 17.76s ride in the win — a time he bettered by five seconds on his way to gold at this year’s para-cycling track world championships in Italy in March.
The Adelaide cyclist, in a new tandem pairing with Queensland pilot David Edwards, remains unsure whether this year’s campaign will be his last.
But regardless, he is out to prove he is no spent force.
“I remember in London I felt a bit selfish standing up there on the podium for the third time in a row,” he says.
“This time, most of the competitors are half my age so I’m thinking if they can’t knock me off, I’m not going to hand it over to them.
“I’ll give them something to chase and let people know that life doesn’t go downhill after 40.”
Australia’s Paralympics chef de mission Kate McLoughlin said the 16-strong cycling squad loomed as a possible gold mine this year.
“The talent on this team is enormous, which is evident in the fact that nearly every athlete has won either a Paralympic or world championship medal,” McLoughlin said.
“I’m confident that the 2016 cycling team is one of the strongest Australia has ever produced, and I’m looking forward to seeing the team aim for a top three-finish on the track, and to be among the top-10 in road cycling.”
RIO 2016 PARALYMPICS CYCLING TEAM
Kieran Modra (SA)
Michael Gallagher (Vic)
David Nicholas (Qld)
Stuart Tripp (Vic)
Kyle Bridgwood (Qld)
Alistair Donohoe (Vic)
Matt Formston (NSW)
Jessica Gallagher (Vic)
Carol Cooke (Vic)
Simone Kennedy (NSW)
Alexandra Lisney (NSW)
Sue Powell (ACT)
Amanda Reid (NSW)
Pilots: David Edwards (for Kieran Modra), Nick Yallouris (for Matthew Formston), Madison Janssen (for Jessica Gallagher)
Originally published as Five-time gold medallist Kieran Modra facing unusual ‘first’ in storied Paralympics career
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