Reid blitzes world record for Paralympic gold

Australian Amanda Reid showcased her power in the C1-3 women's 500m time trial on the track at the Tokyo Paralympics, storming to the gold medal with a new world record.

Amanda Reid wins gold at the Tokyo Paralympics. Source: Seven Network

Reid got up to speed quickly from a standing start before settling down onto the aero bars as she sprinted towards the finish line. 

She crossed the line with a 'real time' of 38.487, the factored time of 35.581 winning her the gold medal, and the time setting a new world record for the C2 class.

“It means everything," said Reid. "The last five years have been very up and down, so to get the gold is just amazing it feels so great.

“I was hoping for a world record, but I was a bit everywhere on the track, bit of a zigzag. That’s because of my cerebral palsy, it can be interesting when you ride."

Reid moved across from swimming, in which she competed at the 2012 London Games, before moving into cycling for the 2016 Rio Games where she won silver in the women's C1-3 500m time trial. She has since set multiple world records in the 500m event en route to her gold medal in Tokyo. 

The 24-year-old has achieved a lot over her career and shared her experiences with SBS and the children of the township of Coonamble in a series that examined one communities experience with the 'Heal Country' message of NAIDOC week.

Reid was ecstatic to have given such a positive representation for Aboriginal and disabled athletes back in Australia. 

"It means everything to me, as a proud Guringai and Wemba Wemba woman to represent my people back home, especially seeing as there are only three of us on the team this time," said Reid. "I'm hoping that I can encourage more Aboriginal disabled athletes to get into sport."

The Rio Games silver medallist, who has cerebral palsy, broke the 39.035 world record for the C2 class she set in January at the 2021 world championships in Canada.

Dutch rider Alyda Norbruis won silver with 39.002 and China's Qian Wangwei was third in 41.403, with the time a new record in the C1 class.