Dame Sarah Storey’s record cycling gold this morning in Rio shows Manchester has been the bedrock for success at this summer’s Paralympic Games.
With Storey’s 13th career gold – and Team GB’s 35th, surpassing London’s haul – Great Britain’s cyclists will have Manchester’s National Cycling Centre to thank for their success.
Situated on Stuart St, next to Manchester City’s Etihad Complex, the Velodrome has provided a base for Olympians and Paralympians alike in a period of sustained international success for the sport.
“Manchester has proven to be a great home for British Cycling and our athletes, and everyone in the city can take great pride in their success,” British Cycling’s Chief Operating Officer, Jamie Obank, told MM.
“We’re delighted to see our Paralympians carry on where our Olympians left off in terms of claiming a fantastic number of cycling medals out in Rio.
“We are looking forward to welcoming them all back to Manchester in the near future.
“To have our athletes and support staff centrally based at the National Cycling Centre has been a huge influence in the success that the Great Britain Cycling Team has enjoyed over recent years.”
The centre, which opened in 1994, has offered a solid platform to generations of cyclists, including golden girl Storey.
It has even been labelled a “medals factory” by Manchester City Council deputy leader Sue Murphy.
Eccles-born Storey, 38, is the most successful British Paralympian of the modern era, winning 13 gold medals whilst holding 72 world records.
The veteran scooped up her 12th Paralympic gold on Thursday to beat Tanni Grey-Thompson’s record of 11 gold medals, before adding a 13th on Wednesday in the time trial.
Grey-Thompson sat by the side of the track as Storey comfortably defended her individual pursuit title for the third successive Games.
Storey, who switched from swimming to cycling eight years ago in Beijing, is appearing in her seventh Games after first competing in Barcelona 24 years ago where she won two golds in the pool.
Image courtesy of British Cycling via YouTube, with thanks.
