27-Year-Old Para-Athlete Seizes AusCycling’s Top Honor While Eyeing for Records at 2024 Paralympic Games

Establishing herself as a powerhouse in cycling races, a 27-year-old para-athlete recently made headlines. After persistent efforts in saddleback tournaments, Amanda Reid secured her righteous spot at the 2023 virtual AusCycling awards ceremony. With prestigious top-tier recognitions under her belt, the Sydney resident gained yet another victory in an already illustrious career. 

Marking an unparalleled milestone in her cycling course, Reid’s accolades stood tall alongside revered Australian riders like Cadel Evans and Anna Meares. With sheer determination for pedaling trips, her elevating professional triumphs seemingly knew no bounds. And now, after her latest appraisal at the national sporting venue, Amanda shared vivid plans for the 2024 Paralympics. 

Para cycling professional earns unparalleled recognition 

Earning countless achievements in pro cycling games, Reid’s passion for the sport propelled her to towering heights. Highlighting the Guringai and Wemba Wemba athlete’s true potential, she was honored with the Sir Hubert Opperman Trophy, recorded as the AusCycling Cyclist of the Year. 

Becoming the first para-cycling racer and even an inaugural Indigenous rider to clinch this prestigious title, Reid’s pedaling trail also left marks beyond the track. Securing her spot as the top women’s track para-cyclist, she accepted her virtual awards, joining other notable riders on the Oppy Medal honor roll. 

Significantly, Reid’s cycling career was paved with hardships but did not succeed in demolishing her high-spirited ordeals. Born with cerebral palsy and an intellectual impairment, her saddleback journey began during her childhood days, defying barriers while competing in speed skating.

Seasoned para-cyclist hopes for triumphant Olympic games 

At just 15, Reid was spotted making a splash at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, showcasing her prowess in swimming. However, it was in para-athletic cycling games that she found her true calling, shifting gears after the London tournaments to ascend the ranks swiftly.

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While her records boasted an impressive tally of 10 world championships and a total of 17 medals, Reid’s cycling spree also included five-time trial victories in 500m tracks. Subsequently, the Australian icon was seen securing gold at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games, marking her ascendancy into the echelons of riding greatness.

With her recent triumph at the inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, Reid broke her self-made world records in the women’s C2 races. Remarkably, her dominance in the 500m time trial during qualifying raised eyebrows, clocking a staggering 38.162 seconds while spotlighting her relentless pursuits. 

Transitioning from speed skating to swimming and eventually mastering para-cycling, Reid’s plans for the Rio de Janeiro World Championships promised a power-packed season ahead. As she aimed for a fourth cycling triumph at the Paris 2024 Games, Amanda Reid’s pedaling tale echoed her journey to sporting excellence, that too in versatile arenas.

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