Echelon Cycling Studio Coach and Sports Dietitian Meg Lemon competed in Tokyo recently in the ‘C4’ class, representing Australia in the 3000 Individual Pursuit, Team Sprint, Individual Road Time Trial and Road Race. Below are her reflections from the 2021 Para Olympic Games…….
It wasn’t easy for any athlete to get to these Games (a little interruption called Covid19!), but it was an honour to be on the start line in Tokyo, wearing the green and gold.
My first race was the 3000 IP……it was a close race where I missed out on a medal by just over 1 second. I felt disappointed by this result but I tried to use it as ‘fire in my belly’ to push myself in my next event – the road time trial. Like all athletes, I had dreamed of winning a gold medal which helped me push through those hard days in training. I put everything I had into my time trial and followed my race plan well, coming away with a Bronze medal.
The expected hot and humid conditions we had trained our bodies to endure were nowhere to be seen on the Road Race day……. replaced with extreme fog, rain, hail and flooded, slippery roads! This made for a pretty treacherous race and I ended up first in my class (but unfortunately no medal as we were combined with another class). We all finished looking like some of the cyclists from Paris-Roubaix!
The preparation for Tokyo required a combination of strength training, road riding, track sessions, ergo sessions and skills sessions, as well as heat acclimation and sport psychology strategies. High intensity interval training (HIIT) efforts were used throughout our training (especially in the final months), to maximise anaerobic and aerobic capacity required for the track and road time trial events and make the most of time restraints imposed by curfews and other covid restrictions. Heat acclimation (in the form of a heat chamber, saunas, hot tubs and humid environments) was an integral part of our training in the Games lead up. Pre-cooling strategies, such as ice slushies, iced/cold towels, fans before and after warm-ups and in between races, provided acute relief from the thermal stress of heat.
I came to Tokyo and gave it my all, so walking away to say I am a Paralympic medallist is a pretty heart-warming thing and I hope it gives back to those that have supported me in my journey.
I now realise that the Paralympic Games is something bigger than just the athletes. It brings joy to many and is a symbol of both hope and unity. I hope the Olympic Games help others to realise the potential of exercise and sport – and not just for the health benefits. For me, getting back on a bike, allowed me to overcome depression, rebuild my life and relationships. Making it to the Olympic Games was an added bonus. I want people to feel encouraged that every journey has downfalls and obstacles, but just around the corner, there is opportunity for growth and happiness!
-Meg Lemon
