Bronze medal for para-cyclist
A Taranaki para-cyclist has been officially recognised as a Paralympian after he came third in the world in Men’s T2 paracycling.
Stephen Hills finished just 13 seconds off the gold medal spot in the Men’s T2 Road Race at the recent UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships in the Netherlands.
‘‘It was a really great experience,’’ he said.
T2 is a class for cyclists with a moderate loss of stability and function. The T means that competitors use tricycles rather than regular two-wheeled bikes.
Throughout the race he stayed quietly back in seventh place before making a push for the leaders in the second to last lap.
He was able to push up to third place but couldn’t quite take out first as he got stuck behind three slow trike riders on uneven terrain.
However, he said just missing out on the top spot didn’t bother him.
‘‘I am result.’’
Hills has right side hemiplegia, causing muscle weakness and partial paralysis on the right side of his body.
He developed the condition when he was five years old, after he was hit by a motorbike as he crossed the road to catch the bus.
His place in the New Zealand paralympic team for next year depends on the next world championships in April, but so far it is looking good for Hills, who also claimed silver at the UCI Paracycling Road World Cup in August.
In September, Hills, Taranaki paralympic swimmer Theresa Herd (nee Griffin) and wheelchair rugby player Jai Waite were officially recognised and celebrated as paralympians as part of the Celebration Project.
The project recognises the achievements of New Zealand’s 209 Paralympians since the Tel Aviv games in 1968.
They were each given a certificate and their official paralympic number.
Herd is New Zealand paralympian number 144, Waite is 156 and Hills is 196. very happy with the
‘It was a really great experience. Stephen Hills