British paratriathletes have most successful Paralympics ever in Paris

Dave Ellis earned golden redemption, Megan Richter shocked everybody, including herself, the emotion poured out of Hannah Moore, and Lauren Steadman and Claire Cashmore continued their podium habits.

With so much to shout about on ParalympicGB’s greatest day ever – only the US won more medals in Paris – it would be easy to miss some of the other standout performances by British athletes.

“It’s been a rollercoaster,” said Alison Peasgood, explaining her experience of returning to elite sport after starting a family, making a late run to qualify for the Games, and – with the support of guide Brooke Gillies – finishing an impressive fourth place in the visually impaired division.

“There’s nothing you can compare it to. There are days when you feel amazing and days when you feel awful and ultimately no matter what I do Logan is going to want to play with me and just be happy. He’s here, probably fast asleep somewhere.”

The crowd noise, particularly from the large British contingent who had travelled to support, was so loud at times that Peasgood even struggled to pick up instructions from Gillies on the tandem. “I think that was my family!” Peasgood explained. “I could hear them and I just wanted to listen to Brooke.”

While the course had plenty of highs, both Peasgood and Gillies shrugged off the inevitable questions about concerns over water quality, underlining that they were pleased that a triathlon – not a duathlon – took place despite a 24-hour delay.

“I remember Rio and Tokyo being the same [in terms of pre-race chatter of water pollution]. We’ve just got to keep our heads down and trust that World Triathlon will do what’s best for us,” Peasgood said.

The visually impaired races were initially scheduled for Monday, brought forward to Sunday, and then took place on the original day following the postponement. “It’s frustrating going forward and then back a day, but it’s about adapting and we did that,” she continued. “I wanted a tough swim so I’m glad we got to do it. I think the whole world should have better quality water, but that’s a conversation for another day.

“I think the biggest difference for us was that it got pushed back until today or could even have been tomorrow. Normally we know we’re racing on a given day, even if it can become a duathlon. I was more mentally ready to see my son, Logan, yesterday so I spent an extra day waiting for a cuddle.”

Peasgood also had a word for the commitment of Gillies, who honoured her pledge to guide the Scot after Peasgood returned from maternity leave. “Her biking has got better in my absence. I’m really proud of how strong she’s become and that she delivered such a good race for me today.

“In Tokyo, I might have been a bit frustrated I didn’t leave it all out there, but today we really did. We’ve worked so hard as a pair this last year and I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

No regrets for Urand

There was also a fourth place for Paralympic debutant Henry Urand in the PTS3 class, with the 22-year-old from Ashford in Kent working his way up from eighth after the swim to deliver the second fastest bike and run splits and almost reach the podium. 

Urand, who is studying economics at Loughborough University, was a talent transfer from paracycling and the Paris experience meant he had no regrets about the new direction.

“I wouldn’t be here otherwise and it was an unreal experience,” he reflected.  “Fourth is not the nicest place to finish, it’s so close but so far but the course was amazing, it was lovely to see my friends and family out there and it pushed me all the way.”

He made no bones about the area he needs to improve. “It’s no secret that my swim is my weakness, all my competitors know that and I don’t think I had the greatest swim, but I was pushing on the bike and gave it my all to finish fourth.”

That haste might have been part of the reason for a 10-second penalty as he failed to dismount in time approaching T2, but he doesn’t believe it was critical to the outcome. “I could see the Dutch guy, Nico [Van Der Burgt] starting to fade on the run, but I think I finished too far back [to challenge for bronze] anyway.”

After some refocusing, LA 2028 looks an exciting prospect. “I’ll enjoy my time at the Games, see what Paris has to offer and then go home, have some family time, start building for Euros and worlds, finish my degree and then build into Los Angeles.”

Elsewhere, there were other impressive performances from GB athletes. In the men’s PTS4 race, Michael Taylor was sixth with Finley Jakes 11th.

Mel Nicholls (PTWC) finished seventh in her first Paralympic paratri race, the same position as Oscar Kelly and guide Charlie Harding placed in a highly-competitive VI division, where Kelly, 23, was the second youngest in the field. 

“I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who travelled out yesterday but had to travel home and didn’t get to watch us,” Taylor added. “We really appreciate everyone who made the effort to beg, borrow, steal to come and watch us. It’s been a huge undertaking.”