KATIE-GEORGE DUNLEVY and pilot Linda Kelly have won gold in the women’s B individual time trial today at the Paralympics in Paris.
It marks Ireland’s first gold medal and fifth medal overall in the Games, Dunlevy and Kelly finishing first in 38:16.58.
Josephine Healion and Eve McCrystal finished in a time of 41:57.61 to come home in fifth place.
The silver medal was won by Sophie Unwin and pilot Jenny Hall of Team GB, while their counterparts, Lora Fachie and pilot Corrine Hall, landed bronze.
GOLD FOR DUNLEVY AND KELLY! 🥇🥇#TheNextLevel | #Paris2024 | #TeamIreland pic.twitter.com/ACGZIKg5HX
— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) September 4, 2024
GOLD FOR IRELAND!! - Katie-George Dunlevy and her pilot Linda Kelly do the business in the women's B individual time trial #RTEparalympics #paris2024
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 4, 2024
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The result sees Dunlevy retain her title, after winning gold in Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Tokyo (2021) with Eve McCrystal.
It takes Dunlevy’s Paralympic medal record to a remarkable total of seven, her first achieved without McCrystal.
Dunlevy and McCrystal claimed silver on Sunday in the Women’s B 3000m Individual Pursuit.
“Painful, horrific, it was hard,” 42-year-old Dunlevy reflected afterwards. “We heard we were down coming into the first lap and I’ve just learned through experience that it is not over until you finish and come across the line.
“We had to keep pushing and we had a few hairy moments, nearly hitting the barriers, a close shave but that’s racing you are on the limit. If I am not in a world of pain and am falling off the bike, I haven’t worked hard enough. It is not glamorous. It is a suffer-fest of a sport.
“I’m just so proud of Linda. I’m so proud of our race. To come away and win that, I actually can’t believe it, it will take a while to sink in.”
“It’s just a dream for me getting a medal at the Paralympics, a gold medal, it’s just magic,” Kelly added. “I am over the moon. As Katie said, it will take a couple of days to sink in.”
Healion and McCrystal also shared their thoughts with The 42 after their top-five finish.
“It was really hard,” Paralympics debutant Healion said. “Really good effort, really tough course, bit of everything in it. Had to push hard. Done the best I could so I’m happy with that.”
“It was a really tough but enjoyable course, it was hot,” McCrystal added, with both congratulating Dunlevy and Kelly.
“There was everything in it. It was up, it was down, it was technical. I did enjoy it. It was good. We got out what we could. We came into this probably lying in fifth as a pairing, lying in fifth all year. Great result, top-five for Josie in her first Paralympic Games, what more could she ask for and still the road race to come.”
- With reporting from Emma Duffy at Clichy-sous-Bois
