Paralympic great dies in bike crash

Champion cyclist and swimmer Kieran Modra has been remembered as a giant of Australian sport.

Kieran Modra with his wife Kerry and their three girls in 2016 Picture: Mark Brake

Champion cyclist and swimmer Kieran Modra has been remembered as a giant of Australian sport after the eight-time Paralympian died in a collision with a car near Gawler, north of Adelaide on Wednesday morning. The 47-year-old, who regularly rode by himself, died at the scene.

Modra won five gold and five bronze medals at eight Paralympic Games from 1988 to 2016. He also won two silver medals at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Older brother Mark Modra said the family was “surprised, upset, all those usual emotions when you lose someone suddenly. We’re coming to terms with what it means to us and particularly for his family. He’s got three young girls and a wife that won’t have him from here on,” Modra said.

“But he’s certainly left a huge legacy and certainly quite an achievement from a Paralympic perspective. He was certainly one of these guys that would never give up. Nothing was impossible, absolutely nothing, there was no such thing as ‘can’t’.”

Paralympics Australia chief executive Lynne Anderson said the news had shattered the sporting community.

“We are in shock and we are absolutely devastated,” Anderson said. “Our deepest condolences are with Kieran’s wife Kerry and their three children as well as the many people within the Paralympic community, particularly the Para-cycling community, who will be rocked by this tragedy. We are hurting with you.

“Kieran is a giant of Australian Paralympic sport, not only because of his competitive success but also because of his wider contribution to the Paralympic movement across multiple sports over many years. He has left a legacy that will live on. As an athlete, he was the fiercest of competitors who was at his best when the odds were against him.”

Former Australian coach Kevin McIntosh called Modra an “absolute superstar” of cycling and not just one of the greatest Paralympians, but a huge advocate for the Paralympic cause.

“He was pretty special as a person and probably the most strong-willed person I’ve ever come across with regard to his desire to be competitive,” McIntosh said.

“He brought some superhuman performances to the table and was an incredible athlete.

“He was probably a bit unheralded being a Paralympian … but he’s right up there, as far as I was concerned, as one of the leading Paralympians all time — and I’m not just talking Australian.”

Mark Modra said his brother had shown incredible resilience to compete in fast-paced sports that required fine motor skills, despite his visual impairment.

“He just didn’t give up and I think that’s an attribute that we all can benefit from.”

The Advertiser, Staff reporters