Australia announce para-cycling squad for Tokyo Paralympics

Three-time Paralympic gold medallist Carol Cooke and dual Paralympic champion David Nicholas headline Australia’s para-cycling squad for the Tokyo Paralympics.

Dual Paralympic champion David Nicholas and three-time Paralympic gold medallist Carol Cooke Source: Getty Images

Australia’s 12-person team is one laden with success, with Nicholas a recent world champion in his discipline, alongside Alistair Donohoe, Paige Greco, Amanda Reid, Darren Hicks and Emily Petricola.

AusCycling technical director Warren McDonald was delighted with the list unveiled by Paralympics Australia on Friday, labelling it: “one of the strongest teams we’ve sent to a Paralympic Games for a long time”.

“We’ve got some experienced and talented regulars back, as well as some great up-and-coming talent going to their first Games," he said.

“It was a very tight selection, which makes it a really great honour for those who made the team, but also respect to some very good riders who just missed out.

“Being Australia-based, we haven’t been able to travel or race internationally in the past year or so but previous to Covid we had some great results on the track and road.

“It will be a bit of an unknown but I’m quietly confident that we’ve been able to prepare very well here in Australia and our athletes will do well.

“If we can convert our potential, then I think we’ll be very successful.”

The para-cycling squad will next enter a pre-departure camp in early August ahead of the start of the Games at the end of the month.