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To the ultra-competitive perfectionist in Lauren Parker, being overtaken with literally the final wheelchair push of the PTWC Para-triathlon and having to settle for the silver medal at Odaiba Marine Park on Sunday morning was almost unbearable.
To the Lauren Parker who had just acquired paraplegia after a training accident in 2017, the idea of reaching the podium at the Paralympic Games may have seemed like an achievement of which she could feel immensely proud.
“This time four years ago I was laying in hospital bed thinking my life was over,” Parker said after the race, in which she was pipped by America’s Kendall Gretsch by 0.01 of a second after more than an hour of racing.
“I had amazing support around me and, if it wasn’t for that support, I wouldn’t have overcome that life-changing injury. I’ve overcome many surgeries and many obstacles over the last four years. I definitely never would have dreamed of representing my country four years later.”
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Parker led for the entire race except the last moment. She said she had become stuck behind another competitor she was trying to lap around a corner and lost a few decisive seconds.
“I just put my head down and went for it,” she said. “I’m happy with the effort that I put in. I’m proud of my effort.”
But there was no use trying to pretend. Parker came in as the World Champion and favourite. For her and her coach, handler and mentor Brad Fernley, it was gold or broke.
“I’m not holding anything back – we came here for a gold medal and we didn’t get the gold medal,” Fernley said.
“We both feel like we kind of failed. But there are so many messages and phone calls coming in now saying ‘Great job’ and I think when we really think about it, the American who won it, she’s a great athlete, she’s been in it for a long time and, to get pipped on the post, yes it’s a great shame, but we’ve still got a Paralympic silver medal and you can’t complain too much about that.”
Of her link with Fernley, Parker said: “I wouldn’t be here without my best friend and training partner, Brad Fernley. He’s been with me for 14 years, all throughout my career.
“He stuck by me ever since I had my accident every single day. Every single training session, he’s been there. I wouldn’t be here racing for my country at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo without him.”
Fernley’s pride in Parker is obvious. In trying to process the outcome of the race on Sunday, he recounted an interaction at the Paralympic Village with Brazilian Para-triathlete Jessica Ferreira, who had suffered severe burns in a sauna while trying to acclimatize for the Tokyo Games. It required seven of Ferreira’s toes to be amputated, several operations and skin grafts.
“Jessica said ‘Lauren, because of what you’ve done, what you’ve done for the sport, I’m here today because of you’,” he said. “It came from the heart. The four of us – Lauren and me, Jessica and her handler – we all had tears in our eyes.
“Then, straight after that, the Mexican girl came over and said ‘Lauren, bless you for what you do, how you’ve picked up this sport’. That touches us. If this is the reason Lauren had her accident … Lauren’s doing a lot for so many people and the sport.”
By the time Parker had crossed the finish line it had already been a drama-filled day for the Australians. Earlier in the race, Emily Tapp, the 2017 and 2018 World Champion, received 10 stitches after suffering a deep gash to her right leg when she collided with a barrier.
Tapp had seemingly lost concentration momentarily and paid a high price, slamming into a hoarding at full speed.
Australian Paralympic Team Chief Medical Officer Dr Pip Inge, who was present at the race, tended to Tapp immediately.
Dr Inge said after treating Tapp that the 30-year-old was shaken but fine.
“She’s got a big gash in her right leg. We’ve cleaned it, sewn it up and we’ll take her back to our medical facility to review her.”
Tapp was competing at her first Paralympics after being forced to withdraw from Rio 2016 due to injury.
In the final Para-triathlon race of Tokyo 2020, the PTS5, Games debutant David Bryant finished seventh.
“I lived a dream today. It’s been a long journey, probably 15 years in the making,” Bryant said.
“I wasn’t that nervous on the start line, I was just trying to embrace it all. I was really calm and ready. I gave it my all. I could have done better in the last half of the swim. My run was opposite – I couldn’t really find my legs in the first half but came good in the second half.
“I just pushed to the end and I was just proud to wear the green and gold.”
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By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 29 August 2021
