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On this day, U.S. women won four of the 9 total medals awarded in paratriathlon including a 1-2-3 finish in the PT2 category for severely impaired competitors. Notably, Katie Kelly of Australia, guided by 2-time ITU World Champion and 2006 Ironman World Champion Michellie Jones, won the gold in the PT5 category for visually impaired competitors.
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PT4 – mild impairment
Grace Norman of the U.S. swam a race-best 10:42 split which gave her a 30 seconds lead on top rival Lauren Steadman of Great Britain, a two-time Paralympic swimmer, who lost a great deal of time when she missed the first swim buoy and had to swim 25 meters back to round in the proper direction.
Steadman charged hard on the bike course and passed Norman after one lap. Knowing Norman was a world record holding runner, Steadman redlined the rest of the way to create a gap but only managed a 5 seconds advantage at T2. Steadman added 13 seconds to her lead with a swifter transition.
On the run, Norman posted a race-best 20:15 split that was 1:27 better than Steadman. Norman finished in 1:10:39 with a 1:04 margin of victory over silver medalist Steadman and 3:52 over bronze medalist Gwladys Lemoussu of France.
"It’s been a long journey, a lot of training, a lot of everything,” Norman told USA Triathlon media. “So to come across that line in first for the U.S., to make first in the history of paratriathlon, is just an incredible feeling. Last year here at the test event, [Steadman] beat me out of the water by around a minute, and so I’ve been working extremely hard on my swim. So to move up and see improvements like that here have just been a reward.”
Steadman said she was proud of her silver medal: “I knew that it would be the swim where I could do some damage, but I just missed the orange buoy, so I had to go back and I got right back in there. The whole swim I could see Grace, but the tide would not allow me to get there. I killed myself in the swim just to catch up and then I tried really hard on the bike and it just took my legs on the run.”
Grace Norman of the U.S. swam a race-best 10:42 split which gave her a 30 seconds lead on top rival Lauren Steadman of Great Britain, a two-time Paralympic swimmer, who lost a great deal of time when she missed the first swim buoy and had to swim 25 meters back to round in the proper direction.
Steadman charged hard on the bike course and passed Norman after one lap. Knowing Norman was a world record holding runner, Steadman redlined the rest of the way to create a gap but only managed a 5 seconds advantage at T2. Steadman added 13 seconds to her lead with a swifter transition.
On the run, Norman posted a race-best 20:15 split that was 1:27 better than Steadman. Norman finished in 1:10:39 with a 1:04 margin of victory over silver medalist Steadman and 3:52 over bronze medalist Gwladys Lemoussu of France.
"It’s been a long journey, a lot of training, a lot of everything,” Norman told USA Triathlon media. “So to come across that line in first for the U.S., to make first in the history of paratriathlon, is just an incredible feeling. Last year here at the test event, [Steadman] beat me out of the water by around a minute, and so I’ve been working extremely hard on my swim. So to move up and see improvements like that here have just been a reward.”
Steadman said she was proud of her silver medal: “I knew that it would be the swim where I could do some damage, but I just missed the orange buoy, so I had to go back and I got right back in there. The whole swim I could see Grace, but the tide would not allow me to get there. I killed myself in the swim just to catch up and then I tried really hard on the bike and it just took my legs on the run.”
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PT5 - Visually impaired, led by a guide
Halfway through the 20km bike leg, Australian Katie Kelly and guide Michellie Jones caught a leading pack of five competitors. On the third 5km lap, Kelley surged ahead of the pack and finished the cycling leg with a 10 seconds lead on Melissa Reid of Great Britain and 30 seconds on Reid’s countrywoman Alison Patrick.
After a race-best 20:37 run that was 30 and 41 seconds better than her chasers, Kelly finished in 1:12:18 with a 1:02 margin of victory over silver medalist Alison Patrick and 1:49 on bronze medalist Melissa Reid.
“I thought I couldn’t (slow down in the finish chute),” Kelly told ITU media. "I didn’t know what lead we had. I just do it for the kids in Australia living with a disability. I never imagined that I’d win gold and it’s an honor to do it. Anyone with a disability can take a crack at something and do what they love, and that’s what I was doing out there.”
“Katie was unbelievable out there,” said her guide, 2000 Olympic silver medalist Michellie Jones. “When I asked her to go harder, she went harder. Most athletes wouldn’t have done it and that’s just testament to who she is. She’s so determined. I love her to death. Coming down the finish chute she wanted to keep sprinting and I had to tell her to enjoy the moment.”
Halfway through the 20km bike leg, Australian Katie Kelly and guide Michellie Jones caught a leading pack of five competitors. On the third 5km lap, Kelley surged ahead of the pack and finished the cycling leg with a 10 seconds lead on Melissa Reid of Great Britain and 30 seconds on Reid’s countrywoman Alison Patrick.
After a race-best 20:37 run that was 30 and 41 seconds better than her chasers, Kelly finished in 1:12:18 with a 1:02 margin of victory over silver medalist Alison Patrick and 1:49 on bronze medalist Melissa Reid.
“I thought I couldn’t (slow down in the finish chute),” Kelly told ITU media. "I didn’t know what lead we had. I just do it for the kids in Australia living with a disability. I never imagined that I’d win gold and it’s an honor to do it. Anyone with a disability can take a crack at something and do what they love, and that’s what I was doing out there.”
“Katie was unbelievable out there,” said her guide, 2000 Olympic silver medalist Michellie Jones. “When I asked her to go harder, she went harder. Most athletes wouldn’t have done it and that’s just testament to who she is. She’s so determined. I love her to death. Coming down the finish chute she wanted to keep sprinting and I had to tell her to enjoy the moment.”
