Lauren Parker breaks female handcycle record in St George

Australia’s Lauren Parker set the fastest ever female handcycle time at the IRONMAN World Championship in Utah.

The 33-year-old, who was paralysed from the waist down following a training accident in 2017, finished the course in St George in 14:00:47.

Parker became the third female in the handcycle division to complete the race after Minda Dentler (2013) and Liz McTernan (2018).

Unforgettable day

In what was her first full-distance race as a handcycle competitor, she also became the first Australian to complete the event.

Parker, who picked up a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics last year and won gold at the World Triathlon Para Championships, wrote on Instagram that the 226km race in Utah was “one of the toughest” she has done.

“Such a brutal yet amazing course that makes you dig deeper than you ever think possible,” she posted.

“I’ve waited five years to get back to racing Ironman. It will be a day I’ll never forget.”

Parker went on to assert that her “sights are now set on Kona” in October as she continues her Paratriathlon journey.