Anna Taylor has won New Zealand’s first medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, securing a silver in the women’s C4 3000m individual pursuit.
Taylor, a 33-year-old Para cyclist from Cambridge, was overtaken by Australia’s Emily Petricola in the final but earned her spot on the podium after a record-breaking performance in the qualifying round, where she set a new national record of 3:42.137.
Taylor made a strong start in the final, leading early in the race, but Petricola, the defending champion, took control halfway through and caught Taylor near the end, stealing her win. Despite the loss, Taylor’s performance earned her a well-deserved silver medal, marking a significant achievement in her cycling career.
Originally from Taupō, Taylor began her athletic journey as a rower, earning a scholarship to Oregon State University in the USA. During her time there, she overcame thyroid cancer and achieved success in rowing, securing medals at the US national club championships. However, her journey took a challenging turn when she suffered a severe spinal injury in 2016, leading her to switch to Para cycling.
Taylor was thrilled with her silver medal win in Paris, describing it as a dream come true. “To come back for a second Paralympic Games and then to podium is amazing,” Taylor said. “It’s very hard to pick yourself back up after you get knocked down many times, but that is what life is all about.”
I have always wanted to travel all around Europe