Australian cyclist Paige Greco smashed her own world record in the women’s pursuit C3 3000m individual pursuit, giving Australia a huge boost on day one of the Paralympics.
Greco, 24, broke her own world record by more than seven seconds in her heat when she finished in time of 3:52.283 to top the leaderboard on her Paralympic debut and book her place in the final against China’s Xiaomei Wang.
“I’m so happy, I just can’t believe it,” Greco said after the race.
“I went in thinking I’ve just got to stick to the schedule my coaches and I had planned.
“It’s not over yet, I’ve got to recover and go onto the final, but (I’m) very happy.
“I’d been working very hard on that schedule of training. I probably doubted myself a few times, but my coach and the staff, they all really believed in me and pushed me to tell me I do have it in me. I’m so happy.”
Greco is already guaranteed a medal and will take on China’s Xiaomei Wang in the final, who also broke the world record but was still 3.5 seconds behind the Aussie.
MORE TO COME
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