Dual world champion Lauren Parker named female para-athlete of the year

Para-cyclist and para-triathlete Lauren Parker has been named the AIS Female Para-Athlete of the Year for her outstanding achievement of winning a world championship in both sports in the same year.

While the 34-year-old continued her dominance in para-triathlon this year, winning her fourth consecutive World Championship Title, her move into para-cycling has been equally successful.

Lauren Parker became a para-cycling world champion in Glasgow this year. Photo: SWpix.com

In her debut international para-cycling event, Parker won gold in the H3 individual time trial at a World Cup race in Belgium.

She then became a dual sport World Champion, winning hand-cycling gold in the H3 individual time trial at the UCI World Championships in Glasgow, followed by a silver in the H3 road race at the World Championships.

“Yeah, it’s a big challenge but that’s what I thrive for,” Parker said at the AIS Sport Performance Awards held at Centrepiece in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Lauren Parker was named the 2023 AIS Female Para-Athlete of the Year. 

“I had the goal of becoming world champion in both the para-cycling and para-triathlon and I set out to achieve that, and I’m super excited that I was able to do that and gain as much experience as possible for cycling.”

Now having achieved a dream of being a world champion in para-cycling and para-triathlon, she will set her sights on Paralympic glory in 2024.

“My goal is to qualify for both sports in Paris,” she said.

Main photo: SWpix.com