Australian para-triathlete Lauren Parker has revealed how a horror cycling accident has forced her to change her style in a bid to clinch gold in Paris.
Parker, who had to settle for silver in Tokyo after being pipped to the top prize by one second, has endured a challenging lead-up to the Paris Paralympics, which begin on Thursday.
The 35-year-old admits she can be very detailed about the specifications of her equipment so that she can feel at her best.
But when four bolts on the foot pods on her bike came loose while on a training ride earlier this year, Parker’s “worst nightmare happened”.
“After months of saying it… then your leg goes into the ground when you’re riding at 35km/h,” Parker told AAP.
“As my foot went into the ground with the foot pods still on, my leg flung back and I couldn’t control anything.
“I was lucky that my leg didn’t snap off.”
Parker, who is paraplegic, was unable to feel the full extent of the pain.
But the PTWC triathlete, says the training mishap has forced her to reshape her style on the land and in the water as she hunts for success in Paris.
“It’s really made a significant change to my pelvis, my sacrum and my hips,” Parker said.
“My pelvis is twisted, where I start to feel I have felt some pressure and my whole body feels uncomfortable with the change.
“I’ve got to adapt and just get through it because it doesn’t stop me from doing my sport.
“I’ve had to adapt a few things with my bike seating and how I support myself, I’m needing more support in certain areas where I wouldn’t have been before.
“And in my swimming, that has changed with my position, I know I’m slower, I’ve lost time per 100m.”
As well as competing in the para-triathlon, which includes a 750m swim in the River Seine, Parker is also aiming to clinch medals in the H3 cycling road race and time trial.
Parker claimed a silver and gold in the respective cycling disciplines at last year’s world championships and refuses to believe she can’t leave Paris with podium finishes from all three of her races.
“I’m lucky that (balancing two sports) works out and it fits into the Paralympic schedule well,” Parker said.
“I think I’ve got a one day break between the triathlon and the cycling and it’s going to be tough but I believe I can back up and recover well.
“Tokyo was very disappointing for me but that only created more fire in the belly, I’ve got more fire in the belly.
“I know I’ve got unfinished business in Paris but that’s all I’ve been thinking about for the last three years, getting a gold medal.”
