Dame Storey says short women’s time trial ‘appalling’ after winning gold

PARIS: Dame Sarah Storey criticised the “appalling” decision to have the women’s C5 time trial half the distance of the men’s event after winning the 18th Paralympic gold of her career at Paris 2024.

Britain’s most successful Paralympian overcame a 7.18 seconds deficit at the only mid-race checkpoint to stretch her record-breaking exploits in the eastern suburbs of the French capital.

While the 46-year-old was delighted with her latest triumph, she bemoaned a missed opportunity for disability sport and raised the issue of gender inequality after completing a course of just 14.1 kilometres in 20 minutes and 22.15 seconds.

Storey said riders had appealed to organisers about the race length before the Games but not received a response.The men’s C5 event, which will take place on Wednesday afternoon, is double the distance, comprising two laps of the same course.

“This is the shortest Paralympic time trial we’ve ever had,” said Storey, who was 4.69 secs quicker than France’s Heidi Gaugain.“And I think it’s a real shame because you don’t get to showcase Para sport in the way that you want to. So I hope this is the only time it’s less than 20k. You have to ask the organisers (why it was so short). “But I really hope that they never do this to the women again because I think it’s been appalling.”