Britain’s most decorated Paralympian has said she is “incredibly proud and humbled” by the support and accolades she has received after claiming the 30th medal of her career and 19th gold.
Speaking to Sky News, Dame Sarah Storey described it as a “whirlwind” and said he was still pinching herself following her latest success in Paris.
The 46-year-old fought back late in Friday’s cycling road race to pip French teenager Heidi Gaugain – 27 years her junior – on the line to snatch her second gold of the games.
Dame Sarah, who was born without a functioning left hand, has 14 Paralympic golds in cycling to go with five in her previous event swimming, having first competed at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
“It’s been incredible,” she said.
“It’s been a whirlwind and I’m still pinching myself that I’ve got these two shiny things around my neck.”
Asked whether she would at some point wear her entire haul of gold medals, Storey said: “I will do. I have a friend who’s a photographer who’s going to do that shot.”
Describing her latest victory, she said: “The noise was incredible.
“To hear the shouts that she [Gaugain] had around the course, and there was so many people shouting for me as well.
“I must thank the people who had made the effort to get out and about around the course.
“It was immense. The noise in the home straight as we sprinted it out for the gold medal was just deafening. It was amazing to have my family there in amongst the French crowd as well, so really, really special.”
She added: “There are certain things that you don’t ever apply for – role model, icon, whatever – and those things are bestowed upon you by people who are inspired by what you do.
“I’m incredibly proud and incredibly humbled by how many people have reached out with messages of support and congratulations and… the words that they’ve used to describe my career, but also the racing I’ve had this week.
“So now I can thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.”
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Dame Sarah also again refused to rule out competing at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles at the age of 50.
She said: “I haven’t set a deadline for making a decision. I just need to get the rest of the racing season completed, and then look at what the plan looks like for the next cycle.”
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Dame Sarah overtook swimmer Mike Kenny’s British record of 16 Paralympic golds in 2021.
ParalympicsGB has surpassed their gold haul from Tokyo by moving on to 42, while also reaching 100 medals overall – the team’s minimum target in France.
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