Newcastle’s Lauren Parker has taken another step towards her dream of becoming the Paralympic champion in Toyko by winning an International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Cup race in France.
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Parker crossed the finish line first in the wheelchair women’s paratriathlon in Besancon on June 17, 12 minutes clear of Frenchwoman Mona Francis, second, and third-placed Margret Ijdema from The Netherlands.
The 29-year-old Australian was two minutes off the pace as she emerged second out of the swim leg but had established a seven-minute lead by the end of the bike leg and was unable to be caught in the run.
Parker was paralysed from the waist down in a training accident last year and less than 12 months later inspired a nation by winning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April.
She picked up a silver medal in an ITU World Paratriathlon Series race in Japan last month and was “stoked” with her win in France.
“It was a great race. I felt really good,” Parker told the Herald from Italy on Wednesday.
“I was hoping to win before the race and I believed I could. It was a really tough bike course, very hilly, but I felt strong and my run leg feels much better now than at Comm Games.”
Parker will compete in another ITU Paratriathlon Series race in Italy on June 30 before returning to Australia.
She is trying to gain points to qualify for the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final on the Gold Coast in September.
“It helps to get on the podium at each race, which is what I’m trying to do,” Parker said. “My goal at the moment is the world championships in September and to win or at least get on the podium, then after that it’s all focus on Toyko.”