Summer rivalry fuelling new Aussie para-winter star
Joanna Guelas |
Two-time summer Paralympics gold medallist Lauren Parker is not used to losing.
And it’s even a harder pill to swallow for Australia’s para-cycling and para-triathlon gold medallist when she’s losing to her great US rival Kendall Gretsch.
The 37-year-old Parker is competing at the Milan-Cortina Games, her first winter Paralympics, just nine months after first taking on biathlon and cross-country.
As Gretsch took bronze in the women’s cross-country 10km sitting on Wednesday in Tesero, Parker finished eighth for her best result so far.
The legendary Oksana Masters won her third gold of the Games for the US, ahead of South Korean silver medallist Kim Yunji.
It was multi-discipline star Masters’ 12th Paralympics gold in summer and winter Games, and her 22nd medal in all.
Meawhile, ultra-competitive Parker started off her campaign in Italy with a 13th-place finish in the biathlon sprint and a ninth-place finish in the individual 12.5km biathlon race.
“It has been hard, like I set the bar high for myself,” Parker said on Wednesday.
“I’m just enjoying every part of this journey and yeah, I am so new – it’s like my 11th week on snow in my life.
“I can’t be too hard on myself, just to be here is a crazy thought.
“I’m feeling really happy with that result today. I felt so strong out there.”
Parker had been lured to the snow by triathlon rival Gretsch, who first brought up the idea at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Gretsch had made her Paralympics debut at the 2018 PyeongChang Games before competing in Tokyo, boasting three gold medals across biathlon and cross-country.
The pair have traded blows in an enthralling rivalry off the snow, with Gretsch first pipping Parker by a second to take gold in the PTWC triathlon in Tokyo.
Parker found redemption in the PTWC triathlon by beating Gretsch for gold in Paris.
The Newcastle product then took out the H1-4 para-cycling road race in Paris to become the first Australian since Eric Russell in 1976 to win golds in two sports at the same Games.
As Parker endured a harsh welcome to the Nordic sports, Gretsch kicked off her fourth summer and winter Games by winning biathlon individual sitting bronze and biathlon sprint sitting silver before Wednesday’s cross-country event.
“She’s loving that I’ve started the sport – um, well, she’s loving it now,” Parker said of her 33-year-old rival.
“Maybe in four years’ time when I’m a bit more competitive, maybe she won’t be, who knows?”
Gretsch chipped in: “That’s probably true. She’s such a strong athlete.”
Their rivalry might be limited to the snow in the future, with Gretsch still undecided on competing at the 2028 LA Games.
Parker is still training for her summer disciplines, preparing in her room at the athletes’ village on a bike ahead of a triathlon in New Zealand.
Fellow Australian cross-country athlete Dave Miln finished 20th in the men’s sitting event, while Matt Brumby finished last in 31st.
Taryn Dickens did not compete in the women’s vision impaired with guide Lynn Maree Cullen due to load management.
AAP