Canada now has its first medal of the Paris Games

Canada has its first medal of the Paris Games. Calgary, Alta.’s Kate O’Brien flew to a bronze medal in the women’s C4 time trial on Thursday, hitting the podium at the Vélodrome national de St-Quentin-en-Yvelines.

“To be quite honest, I didn’t expect this,” said O’Brien. “I honestly didn’t think a medal was within reach, and I’ve never won a first medal in anything! It means so much and to receive so much support from my family and friends.”

O’Brien takes bronze behind the Netherlands’ Caroline Groot and France’s Marie Patouillet. The Canadian clocked a factoriezed time of 36.873 seconds in finals.

“Obviously the times were very, very tight and the year leading up to Paris was a bit of a struggle for training,” O’Brien added, “And so, honestly, I didn’t know if I would make the team and I came in and was able to get into the top six, make the finals and finish with a medal, it’s an absolute dream.”

This isn’t O’Brien’s first medal in the C4 time trial. The Calgary racer earned silver in the same event at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

The Paralympic Games continue with more track events at St-Quentin-en-Yvelines this week.