Women dominate day one of road course, claiming 3 gold medals in Paris
CLICHY-SOUS-BOIS, FRANCE - Opening day of the road course at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was a true test of individual fortitude, endurance and power. As riders faced the solo battle against the clock, three Team USA women emerged victorious, each claiming gold in their respective events.
For Oksana Masters (Louisville, Ky.), the individual time trial women’s H4-5 was a format she had previously expressed a desire to win and recognized as her biggest limitation. Defying her own doubts, she clinched her 18th Paralympic medal as she crossed the finish line and cemented her legendary status.
“I’m speechless. I had no confidence in myself, I knew this course had one aspect that was my strength, which was that last climb, and everything else were my weaknesses,” Masters said. “I just trusted my coach, and trusted my plan and it feels so good, and I would not have done this without the support of Team USA behind me the whole way through.”
In pursuit of redemption from an unexpected injury that left her absent at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, two-time bronze medalist Samantha Bosco (Claremont, Calif.) achieved her long-held goal with a triumphant performance in the individual time trial women’s C4. Bosco fought out a finish on the 14.2-kilometer course, leading her to the top of the podium with a finish time of 21.39.24. As she reflected on the path to this moment, she recalled the profound impact of the friends, family, and community that supported her through challenging times.
“Just being here was a win. For me, this gold medal is something I can put on the wall and remember that journey, and remember the people that went into it,” Bosco said. “There are so many people here and back home, so many people up above, including my little dog, who are in that medal. I will see them when I look at that.“
Staying calm and composed in her Paralympic debut, world champion Katerina Brim (Lowell, Michi.) finished the time trial with a commanding 9.50-second lead ahead of Australia’s Lauren Parker, demonstrating dominance in the women’s H1-3 category as she ascended to the top of the podium. After recently battling illness, the prospect of winning gold seemed almost unattainable.
“It felt so amazing. I’m just happy to have been able to make it to the start line and be amongst a bunch of other athletes where every single one of us have come here to give it a hundred percent, and that’s exactly what we all did,” Brim said. “I’m here, I’m relatively healthy, and I’m excited to continue on the rest of this week with the road race.”
Viewers can stream the events live on Peacock, NBC, USA Network and CNBC.
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Team USA Results
Samantha Bosco: Gold, Individual Time Trial women’s C4
Oksana Masters: Gold, Individual Time Trial women’s H4-5
Katerina Brim: Gold, Individual Time Trial women’s H1-3
Dennis Connors: 5th, Individual Time Trial men’s T1-2
Travis Gaertner, 5th, Individual Time Trial men’s H4
Cody Wills: 6th, Individual Time Trial men’s H2
Elouan Gardon: 7th, Individual Time Trial men’s C5
Clara Brown: 8th, Individual Time Trial women’s C1-3
Brandon Lyons: 10th, Individual Time Trial men’s H3
Jamie Whitmore: 11th, Individual Time Trial women’s C1-3.
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