London 2012 Olympics: Paralympian cyclist Sarah Storey on the right track to make history
Who dares wins. Sarah Storey, a multiple Paralympic gold medallist, born without a left hand, has put herself in pole position to become the first Briton ever to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Cross over: Paralympian cyclist Sarah Store could compete in 2012 Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Gareth A Davies 5:21PM GMT 11 Feb 2011
It slipped under the radar when Storey was named last week in Great Britain’s podium squad for the Women’s Pursuit team at the World Track Championships which take place at the Manchester Velodrome next weekend.
As it is an Olympic qualifying event, if Storey starts the race, she will have put herself on the Olympic ranking list, and in contention for selection for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Once just a dream, Storey’s drive for Olympic selection has become a reality. “You have to compete in one of the Olympic ranking events from this season or one of eight events next year to be in contention for selection,” explained Storey, already a paralympic totem for success with five swimming gold medals, followed by two cycling gold medals in Beijing.
Remarkably, Storey ‘discovered’ her cycling ability by chance. After a chronic ear problem had forced her to retire from swimming, the Mancunian took up cycling at the nearby national training centre, but doubted whether she would even be eligible to compete at the on a bike at the Paralympics. By the time she had recovered from the ear infection, she was a world champion para-cyclist.
Her elevation to this position is no fluke. Consider this: Storey’s time in the 3km race at the Beijing Paralympics would have earned her seventh place in the women’s Olympic event. Since Beijing, Storey has stripped 2.5sec from her gold medal-winning 3km pursuit time, which would have placed her fifth at the Olympics.
Last year, Storey competed in England's 20-strong cycling team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The 32-year-old became the second Paralympian to represent England in an able-bodied competition alongside archer Danielle Brown. Brown won team gold, Storey finished outside the medal events but still ranked in the world’s top 10 in the 3km event.
In Manchester, Storey will be up against a formidable line-up in Lizzie Armitstead, Katie Colclough, Claire Galloway, Wendy Houvenaghel, Dani King, Rebecca Romero, Joanna Rowsell and Laura Trott, aiming to be selected in the podium teams of three riders. “It's strange sometimes when you're in a line-up and I'm the Paralympic champion and Becs Romero is the Olympic champion, in the same event. I'm getting to compete alongside her now, which is just phenomenal,” she explained.
After two more training sessions, today and Sunday morning, the squad will be whittled down to two teams of three, with one reserve being announced on Sunday afternoon. ‘R’ is not a role Storey is dwelling on when the team sheet is read out by the GB performance director. “I’m not here to make up the numbers, I’m here to be a force within the team, on merit,” she said.
A spokesperson for British Cycling told Telegraph Sport that Storey’s transition “reflects the 17 gold medals won by the Great Britain para-cycling team at the Beijing Games, and the synergy that exists between able-bodied and para-cyclists in the GB set-up. Same track time, same coaches, shared knowledge, shared practice, and huge competition within all teams. It was a natural progression for an athlete who is at the elite level, but who simply has no hand. The issue for Sarah is more technical than physical.”
Indeed, Storey explained that aspect to The Daily Telegraph yesterday. “It is not my physicality for this event which is in question, it is whether I am seen as technically proficient. It’s all about getting into the team and then continuing to improve. There is such strength in depth in the GB team, getting selected is the toughest part. If I was from a lesser cycling nation, getting into the Olympic Games could be a lot easier." That comes to down to grip on the handlebars, the part of the race in which riders focus on power from the start. Effectively with no hand and fingers, Storey can only balance her left arm on the bars, with no grip. Once away, she possesses all the power and speed which make her a world class athlete.
Storey disclosed yesterday that she aims to defend her two Paralympic titles – the Time Trial and Individual Pursuit - in London, as well as gunning for the Olympic Games. That crossover has been achieved before, by Natalia Partyka, a Polish table tennis player, and Natalie Du Toit, a swimmer from South Africa. Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee sprinter from South Africa, and triple paralympic champion over 100m, 200m and 400m, continues to work at the Olympic qualifying time for the 400m event. However, one GB paralympic athlete told The Daily Telegraph yesterday that “crossing over to the Olympic Games is blurring the edges of the two events.”
Nonetheless, Jane Jones, Communications Director at ParalympicsGB, said: “It's a fantastic achievement by Sarah on the back of her Commonwealth Games selection. It shows how Paralympians are continuing to push the boundaries of elite sport.”
Yet next week represents the beginning of Storey’s Olympic dream. “You know what I’m like,” Storey told your correspondent yesterday. “You’ve known me over four Paralympic Games, and I’m a pragmatist when it comes to things like this. The bottom line for me is that what I’m best at is getting on a bike and pedalling as fast as I can. But on merit, I’d like create a bit of history in 2012.”
Crossing the divide
Natalia Partyka, 21, a table tennis player from Poland born without a right hand and forearm, is a double Paralympic champion from Athens and Beijing, who also competed at the Beijing Olympics.
Natalie Du Toit, 27, a swimmer from South Africa who has won 10 Paralympic gold medals in the pool, became the first amputee ever to qualify for the Olympics, in Beijing, where she finished 16th in the 10km, Open water marathon swimming event.
Brian McKeever, 31, a blind Canadian cross-country skier and biathlete was selected by Canada for both the Olympic and Paralympic teams for the 2010 Winter Olympics. At the Olympics he was due to compete in the men's 50km cross-country race, although Canada's Olympic head coach made him a team reserve at the last moment and he did not compete in the Olympic Games.
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