Shippley Edges Closer To Paralympic Dream

Aspiring Paralympian Michael Shippley has achieved the best result of his career so far, winning the silver medal in the C4 1km Time Trial at the Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.

The former triathlete and weightlifter clocked 1:04.813 to finish second to World and Paralympic record holder Jody Cundy of Great Britain. Shippley was a bronze medallist at last year’s Worlds and is aiming to qualify for a spot at Paris 2024.

And it is…JODY CUNDY 🇬🇧🥇

The British rider took the win on the MC4 1km Time Trial, beating Michael Shippley 🇦🇺🥈 and Guoqing Wu 🇨🇳🥉#GlasgowScotland2023 pic.twitter.com/QUblU4aRPg

— UCI Para-Cycling (@UCI_paracycling) August 4, 2023

“To me it’s about being able to give back to my family, my friends and my coaches and every one who believed in me and helped push me through the hard times,” said Shippley, who acquired a nerve-related impairment in a motorbike accident in 2014.

“It’s easy to give up and it takes more than just an individual. I think becoming a Paralympian is the acknowledgement that you and your team have achieved something special and it’s something I’d cherish for a lifetime, being out on that floor to lay it down in front of the whole world to show what I’ve got.”

Earlier at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Paralympic champion Amanda Reid won the bronze medal in the Women C2 Individual Pursuit, outpacing her German rival by three seconds.

Amanda Reid secures Australia's second🥉 at these Championships, stopping the clock at 4:06.494 in the Women C2 Individual Pursuit.

📷 @swpixtweets / Charlie Forgham-Bailey#GlasgowScotland2023 · @CyclingWorlds pic.twitter.com/vD4T1D39sP

— ARA Australian Cycling Team (@AusCyclingTeam) August 4, 2023

Day 1: Track Success Gives Aussie Cyclists An Early Boost

Action continues in Glasgow on Saturday, local time.

By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 5 August 2023
Image: Casey Gibson