WA’s Tyson Lawrence Pilots Modra to Paralympic Gold

Western Australia’s Tyson Lawrence has helped visually impaired cyclist Kieran Modra to a gold medal in the 4000m pursuit in Beijing over the weekend.

Modra and Lawrence – who competes as pilot – repeated their gold winning performance from Athens four years ago after setting a new world record in their win over the Spanish pair of Christian Venge and David Llaurado.

The result was one of two gold in a swag of six medals for the Australian cycling team on day one of the cycling program at the Paralympics. Queensland’s Chris Scott earned the other gold in the 3000m individual pursuit.

Modra and Lawrence’s time of 4.18.166min shaved almost two seconds off the mark they set at the 2004 Games.

An elated Modra spoke of his delight to the media after claiming his second career Paralympic medal.

“I think (I feel) very relieved, all the training that we put into it and trying to make everything just come right for about four minutes. It’s quite amazing to make it happen,” said Modra.

“I didn’t expect it (another world record) in my wildest dreams because usually you go a bit slower …because you put everything out and your legs are a big lactated, but the fact that you can back up and do a faster time is testimony to our training and our fitness.

“It shows us that we a right on track and all our training has gone in the right direction,” he said.