ParalympicsGB gold medal hopeful inconsolable after officials rejects lifeline at Games

ParalympicsGB gold medal hopeful Kadeena Cox was in tears after crashing out of the C4-5 women’s cycling time trial inside the velodrome. The dual-sport athlete was refused a restart by officials, who deemed that her crash was not due to a mechanical issue.

Cox, a four-time Paralympic champion who has multiple sclerosis, was trying to pick up speed in the time trial as she went for gold. However, disaster struck as the 33-year-old struggled for balance and she crashed out.

Broadcast footage showed Cox in tears as she spoke with her team after the incident. She appeared hurt following the collision but is understood to be okay.

Participants are only allowed to restart their time trial if officials believe a crash was caused by a mechanical fault. However, that was not the case for Cox.

Her coach and her medic helped her back to her feet and the mechanics scanned her bike for any faults. None were found and she was not able to continue.

Cox therefore missed out on a medal, with the Netherlands' Caroline Groot claiming gold. Marie Patouillet of France won silver while Canada’s Kate O’Brien clinched bronze.

Soon after, there was better news for Great British star Daphne Shrager as she won silver in the women’s C1-3 3000m individual pursuit final. It was Britain’s first medal of the Paralympics, with Shrager finishing nine seconds behind Wang Xiaomei of China.

Shrager told Channel 4: “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.”

She added of Cox’s crash: “Kadeena was one of the first people who got me into cycling, and we’ve been really close throughout the whole process. I’m gutted for her, and I hoped we’d have a podium picture together. But sometimes sport is that way.”