Sexism row erupts in Paris as cycling great and gold medallist slams treatment of female athletes

Cycling great and 18 time Paralympic gold medallist Sarah Storey has slammed Games organisers for their decision to have females race a significantly shorter distance than their male counterparts.

A sexism row has erupted at the Paralympic Games in Paris after Great Britain cycling great Sarah Storey slammed the treatment of female athletes.

Storey, who claimed her 18th Paralympic gold medal in the women’s C5 individual time trial, slammed organisers for the decision to have females race a shorter distance.

Storey and her competitors completed just one lap of the 14.2km course in Clichy-Sous-Bois on Wednesday.

Gold medallist Sarah Storey has slammed the treatment of female athletes at the Paralympics. Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Meanwhile, male athletes in the same classification completed two and raced later in the day.

“I really hope that they never do this to the women again because I think it’s been appalling,” she said.

“It’s a short race, a really short race, this is the shortest Paralympic time trial we’ve ever had and I think it’s a real shame that we don’t get to showcase para sport in the way that you want it to, so I hope this is the only time it’s less than 20k.

“There’s plenty of time in the day for us to do two laps like the men and having fought so hard for parity in women’s cycling to not have it in para cycling after what we had in Glasgow last year (2023 world championships) is a real disappointment.”

The female athletes completed one lap compared to the two laps their male counterparts race. Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Competing at her ninth Games, the 46-year-old claimed the race in which Aussie Alana Forster claimed a bronze medal.

And she hasn’t ruled out competing in LA in four years.

“Of course I could. But we’ve got to do the road race on Friday and the world championships first so we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves,” she said.

Originally published as Sexism row erupts in Paris as cycling great and gold medallist slams treatment of female athletes