The British Paralympic Association (BPA) has announced the final two riders that will make up the ParalympicsGB cycling team at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Kadeena Cox and Louis Rolfe will both now make their Paralympic debuts at the Rio 2016, and Cox becomes the first British athlete set to compete in two sports at a Games since 1992.
Cox is a sprinter and won the world title in the C4 500m time-trial at the 2016 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Italy, an event she will compete in at Rio. She will also compete in the road race.
Cox said: “I’m delighted to be selected and be on the plane to Rio. I’ve already won a world title in cycling earlier this year and I’ll be giving everything I’ve got to add a Paralympic gold medal to my collection.”
Louis Rolfe will compete in the team sprint alongside Jody Cundy and Jon-Allan Butterworth, a discipline that the trio broke the world record and won gold in at the 2016 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships. He will also compete in the individual pursuit on the track and time –trial on the road.
“I can’t believe that I’m going to be going to my first Paralympic Games in Rio. It’s been a dream of mine ever since I started cycling to be selected for a Paralympics. I’m really looking forward to competing against the best in the world and showing what I’m capable of.”
Rolfe and Cox join a cycling line up for ParalympicsGB which was announced in mid-June.
This includes Britain’s most decorated female Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, who will be confident of adding to her tally of 11 Paralympic gold medals and Jody Cundy, who will be travelling to his sixth Paralympics and hoping to add to his five Paralympic gold medals.
Other veterans of multiple games selected include David Stone, who will be competing in his fourth Paralympic Games and hoping to add to his impressive tally of three Paralympic golds and Neil Fachie, who will be competing in his third games and second in cycling.
Former RAF technician, Jon Allan Butterworth will return to the team hoping to win the first Paralympic gold of his career after winning three silver medals in London, while Karen Darke, who also won silver in London, will be hoping to get one better in the handcycling road race and time-trial.
Joining Cox and Rolfe in the squad will be fellow newcomers Megan Giglia, a double world champion at the 2016 Para-cycling Track World Championships and trike rider Hannah Dines.
Competing in the tandem events for riders with a visual impairment, across the track and road will be Stephen Bate and pilot Adam Duggleby, Neil Fachie and pilot Pete Mitchell, Sophie Thornhill and pilot Helen Scott and Lora Turnham and her pilot, Corrine Hall.
