Team GB cyclist Archie Atkinson misses out on Paralympic gold despite taking a huge lead in the individual pursuit final as he crashes while trying to break his own world record
- Archie Atkinson won a medal in the men's C4 4,000m individual pursuit event
- The Team GB star had looked well on course for gold before settling for silver
- He crashed while pushing hard in an attempt to break his own world record
British Paralympic track cyclist Archie Atkinson crashed while nearly a full track's distance ahead of his opponent and seemingly nailed-on for gold, when making an apparent disastrous attempt to beat the world record he had set earlier in the day.
Atkinson was more than a full six seconds clear of Slovakian Jozef Metelka when he crashed, 250m out from the finish, leaving his opponent to coast home.
There were signs that Atkinson was pushing himself and his bike to a risky level, when he dug in for the record. The 21-year-old– who has cerebral palsy, a number of neurological conditions and is autistic – was wobbling, even when yards ahead, and far less streamlined than the Slovak. He then crashed, leaving members of his family, who were wearing 'Team Archie' T-shirts, in tears.
Atkinson had taken the world record earlier in the day, eclipsing by five seconds the best time previously by Metelka.
Despite benefitting from Atkinson's misfortune, Atkinson embarked on wild celebrations as the Cheshire-based British athlete was helped up from the track.
Archie Atkinson crashed during the final of the men's C4 4,000m individual pursuit gold final
The Team GB star had been well clear of his opponent and was trying to break a world record
Despite his obvious disappointment at falling, Atkinson triumphantly raised both of his fists
Atkinson looked delighted as he posed with his silver medal following Friday's dramatic final
The gold medal went to Slovakia's Jozef Metelka (centre), while bronze belonged to Frenchman Gatien le Rousseau (right)
His win carried echoes of Steven Bradbury, the Australian speed skater who raced to gold at the Salt Lake City Paralympics in 2002 when all four his opponents, whom he trailed, crashed. Atkinson's misfortune was proof that finishing is part of the challenge for some competitors. He took silver.
Atkinson's first experience of riding on a track came at ten years old, under the tutelage of multiple world and Olympic champion, Sir Chris Hoy. He did not compete until a chance encounter with double Paralympic gold medallist Ben Watson whilst out on a ride with his father in 2021.
