Paralympic Games: Sarah Storey’s Olympic woe is now Paralympic joy

After Mark Colbourne won silver in the men’s C1-2-3 1km time-trial for the host nation’s first medal of London 2012, fastest qualifier Storey caught final opponent Anna Harkowska of Poland after six and a half of the 12 laps to win the women’s C5 3km individual pursuit.

It was a third cycling gold for the 34-year-old from Manchester, whose Paralympic career began as a 14-year-old swimmer in Barcelona in 1992 and has now featured 19 medals across six Games.

Storey is due to ride in three more events on track and road at London 2012, and a clean sweep would see her equal wheelchair racer Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s British female record of 11 Paralympic gold medals.

Storey, who next rides in tomorrow’s 500m time-trial, played down the prospect of history after her display in front of a 6,000-capacity crowd.

“I always said if I could get off to a really great start that would set me up for the rest of the week and hopefully that’s the case,” she said. “The first one’s always the hardest to get out of the way and to come away with a gold medal is a dream come true. It’s a bit of a stage race for me this week. It’s important not to look too far ahead.”

Storey, who was born with a left hand which had not fully formed, was in contention for the Olympic team pursuit squad until last December, when she was told she was surplus to requirements while she stood by the baggage carousel at Manchester Airport as she returned from a winning display at the Track World Cup in Colombia.

Her heat time of three minutes 32.170 seconds – performed in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – was quicker than Joanna Rowsell’s time in winning Track World Cup gold on the same track in February.

Storey, who revealed Olympic team pursuit champion Rowsell had sent her a good luck message, said: “I’m just proud to have been able to reduce the world record in my event. It’s ultimately about riding as fast as I can. That’s what the team pursuit was about as well. The team pursuit was event number five and it went down to four events, so there was still so much to  concentrate on. That’s exactly what I did.”

As for targeting an Olympic appearance in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Storey said: “If I’m good enough to be selected, hopefully that will happen.”

Storey’s team-mate Crystal Lane had to settle for fourth, finishing in four minute and 02.773secs as New Zealand’s Fiona Southorn claimed bronze in 3:55.867. Lane only received confirmation of her Paralympic place three weeks ago and was thrilled after clocking a personal best in qualifying of 3:59.220. The 26-year-old, who is studying for a masters in sports nutrition at Loughborough University, took up cycling after her mum saw Storey competing in Beijing.

“Sarah’s always been a long way ahead of me and she will be for the next couple of years,” Lane said. “She is a phenomenal athlete, she works incredibly hard. It’s a massive inspiration and it makes me see with a lot of hard work and training that’s where I can be in the future.”

Colbourne also took up cycling after Beijing, following a paragliding accident which left him with a broken back.

In an event factored to account for mixed classifications, Li Zhang Yu of China won gold with a C1 world record of 1:13.009, converted to 1:05.021. Colbourne, competing in his first Paralympics aged 41, also finished quicker than the previous world best in 1:16.882, converted to 1:08.471.

“For me three years ago when my life completely changed overnight I genuinely felt that my life was over,” said Colbourne, who dedicated his success to his father Cecil, who died in February. “However, if you take adversity and you face it head on in a positive way, then you never know what doors can open for you.”

Colbourne is seeking further success in the individual pursuit, which takes place today.

Tobias Graf of Germany set a C2 world record of 1:15.858, converted to 1:09.979, to finish with bronze, leaving C3 world record holder Darren Kenny, a six-times Paralympic champion, without a medal in fourth. Rik Waddon was ninth and Ireland’s Enda Smyth, also a C3 rider, 16th.

Ireland’s James Brown and pilot Damien Shaw were fourth in the blind and visually impaired 4km tandem pursuit which Australia’s Kieran Modra and Scott McPhee won. Brown said: “I’m disappointed not to be on the podium and, while fourth is sometimes the hardest position, I can’t complain and I’m very happy.”

After Li Zhang Yu’s victory, China also won the second event when Zeng Sini won the women’s C1-2-3 3km individual pursuit.

There was double gold for Australia as well with Susan Powell winning the women’s C4 3km pursuit before Modra and McPhee triumphed in what was the day’s final event.