British Paralympic cyclist Kadeena Cox broke down in tears after crashing out of her gold medal race as she looked to defend her Women’s C4-5 500m time trial title in Paris.
Cox qualified second fastest for the final behind Dutch rider Caroline Groot as she sought to defend the title she won at the Rio and Tokyo Games.
However, the 33-year-old, who has multiple sclerosis, wobbled out of the start gate and appeared unsteady before crashing as she took the first bend.
The ParalympicsGB rider pleaded for the race to be restarted but her request was denied as the fall was not a result of a mechanical issue.
A distraught Cox had to be helped to her feet by support staff and was later seen in tears by the side of the track.
As she failed to finish the race, the Brit missed out on a medal entirely, with Groot taking home gold, while silver and bronze went to France’s Marie Patouillet and Canada’s Kate O’Brien respectively.
Cox will undergo medical examination after the fall but should still have a chance to medal in Paris when she races in the mixed team sprint on Sunday, an event she won gold in three years ago.
In Tokyo, the Brit also won three medals – including one gold – competing in athletics as a runner but was forced to focus solely on cycling this time around having picked up a calf injury in the build-up to Paris.
There was success elsewhere for the Brits on the opening day inside the velodrome, with Daphne Schrager and Steve Bate both wining silver in women’s and men’s individual pursuit.
Reflecting after he race, Schrager sent out her sympathies to Cox who first inspired her to get into the sport.
‘Kadeena [Cox] was one of the first people who got me into cycling, and we’ve been really close throughout the whole process,’ she told Channel 4.
‘I’m gutted for her, and I hoped we’d have a podium picture together. But sometimes sport is that way.’
Reflecting on her own silver, Schrager added: ‘It’s just incredible. A year ago, I didn’t think I’d be on the bike again after I crashed, so to come here and break the world record was all I could do.
‘Sadly, it wasn’t enough. I’m always someone that is hungry for more, but I can walk away happy.
‘It’s been hard, but I’m really happy winning the first medal of the Games. To come away with a medal at all is such a privilege – there’s so many people back home who would have loved to be here but didn’t get selected, so I feel honoured to ride here.’
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