Cyclist Grace Brown defies the wet to deliver Australia’s first gold of Paris Olympics
Cyclist Grace Brown has won Australia’s first medal at the 2024 Olympics on the opening day of competition, taking gold with a dominant performance in the individual time trial held on the slippery city streets of a rainy Paris.
The 32-year-old completed the 32.4km course, starting close to the Eiffel Tower before a loop around the city’s east, in 39min 38secs, 1min 31sec ahead of silver medallist Anna Henderson of Great Britain and US rider Chloé Dygert in third
Brown had declared leading into the Games that missing a medal in Paris would be a disappointment, and last month she announced a plan to retire from the sport at the end of the year.
But on a dramatic day marred by several accidents by other riders, including a fall from Dygert, the Australian met her high expectations with a powerful performance that represented the culmination of her glittering career and kick-started her team’s Olympic campaign.
Brown said she had executed the perfect race, despite the conditions.
“I really think I did,” she told Channel Nine. “I had a plan to pace the race to win gold and I was able to execute my plan, pretty much to perfection, if not better. Can’t ask for a better day. It’s raining, but really, it’s not dampening my spirits.”
after newsletter promotion
More to follow.