Paralympian Carol Cooke stays in hospital after cycling road race crash
Australian Paralympics star Carol Cooke was taken to hospital after a crash in the T1-2 road race. Photo: Paralympic Australia
Australian Paralympics cycling great Carol Cooke is in hospital with a punctured lung after a nasty crash in the Tokyo Games women’s T1-2 road race.
Cooke, who turned 60 earlier this month, was hoping to repeat the gold medal she earned in Rio 2016.
But she was caught in a collision with two other riders early in the race on Thursday, which was marred by poor, slippery conditions.
Canada’s Marie-Eve Croteau crashed and the rider behind her, Germany’s Jana Majunke, braked – with Cooke then going into the back of Majunke, and crashing badly herself.
Majunke pedalled away but neither Cooke nor Croteau completed the race.
#ParaCycling's Carol Cooke is spending the night in hospital after crashing heavily in treacherous conditions during the 26km road race T1-2. Sending best wishes to Carol for a speedy recovery: https://t.co/aAmPSpwr5I#ReadySetTokyo #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/z2gXDn0leK
— AUS Paralympic Team (@AUSParalympics) September 2, 2021
Cooke, who claimed silver in the women’s time-trial on Tuesday, got back on her tricycle but was unable to finish.
“Well at least I got two firsts today – first ever race crash and the first time I have not finished a race,” she said from her hospital bed.
Cooke has a collapsed left lung and doctors have inserted a chest drain.
“I feel better than I did an hour ago,” she said.
Take a look at these conditions for our Para-cyclists in the road race…
Watch live @7plus: https://t.co/pz2dj90ws0#ReadySetTokyo #Paralympics #Tokyo2020 @AusCyclingAus | @AusCyclingTeam https://t.co/FDMYf1kfHm
— AUS Paralympic Team (@AUSParalympics) September 2, 2021
She will undergo further tests to see if she has any rib fractures and it is unclear how long she will need to stay in hospital.
“I’m made of concrete. I spoke to my sister and she told me it’s alright. I still have three years to come back and redeem myself (in Paris),” Cooke said.
The Victorian won the mixed time-trial T1-2 in London 2012 and both the T1-2 time-trial and the T1-2 road race in Rio 2016.
