Pro Racing Sunshine Coast cyclist Alistair Donohoe has won silver in the C5 4km individual pursuit cycling event in the Izu Velodrome at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Donohoe, 26, who has been with the USC-based high-performance cycling club since 2019, took five seconds off his previous personal best time to finish in 4:24.095 in the gold medal race against Dorian Foulon of France yesterday (Friday 27 August).
In a sign of respect for the French cyclist, Donohoe stepped forward at the medal ceremony to present the gold medal to Foulon, who completed the race in 4:20.757.
Donohoe, who is the reigning world champion in road cycling time trial and road race, has one more track event in the team sprint today (Saturday 28 August) before he begins his road cycling campaign on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, USC Spartans swimmer Katja Dedekind has claimed her second bronze medal of the Games, finishing third in the S13 400m freestyle.
The 20-year-old USC Arts student touched the wall in 4:35.87 - 2.5 seconds faster than her previous best time - to earn her place on the medal podium with Ukranian Anna Stetsenko (4:23.92) and Carlotta Gilli of Italy (4:26.14).
Dedekind's final event will be the 50m freestyle tomorrow (Sunday 29 August).
Two other USC Spartans swimmers made the finals at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre yesterday.
Braedan Jason, a USC Journalism graduate from Buderim, finished 4th in the S13 400m freestyle in 4:12.75. And Ruby Storm, who won bronze in 100m butterfly earlier this week, finished 7th in the S14 200m freestyle in a time of 2:17.33.
In wheelchair rugby team, Chris Bond scored 16 tries in Australia's 57-53 loss to host nation Japan. The team has made the semi-finals, though, and will take on the USA tonight.
There are 10 USC-affiliated athletes competing in the Paralympics. Results so far include:
- Alistair Donohoe - silver in C5 4km individual pursuit
- Katja Dedekind - bronze in S13 100m backstroke; bronze in S13 400m freestyle
- Ruby Storm - bronze in S14 100m butterfly; 7th in 200m freestyle
- Ben Hance - bronze in S14 100m butterfly
- Keira Stephens - bronze in SB9 100m breaststroke;
- Braedan Jason - 4th in S13 400m freestyle
- Ellie Cole - 4th in S9 400m freestyle
Upcoming events for USC athletes are as follows (with all times in AEST):
Saturday 28 August
- Alistair Donohoe in cycling team sprint qualifying at 11.32am and final after 1pm
- Ruby Storm and Ben Hance in mixed 4x100m freestyle heats at 12.17pm and final at 8.47pm
- Chris Bond in wheelchair rugby semi-finals against USA at 6.30pm
- Hannah Dodd in wheelchair basketball v Great Britain 9.30pm
Sunday 29 August
- Katja Dedekind in 50m freestyle heats from 11.06am, with final at 7.17pm
- MAYBE - Chris Bond in wheelchair rugby finals at 3pm (bronze medal playoff) or 7pm (gold medal playoff)
- Hannah Dodd in wheelchair basketball v Canada 9.30pm
Monday 30 August
- Ellie Cole in 100m backstroke heats soon at 10.15am, with the final at 6.21pm
- Terry Walsh
