Sport
2 August, 2024
Gold for Grace
CAMPERDOWN’S Grace Brown is once again the golden girl of the western district.
Brown etched her name in history last weekend by winning a career-defining gold medal in the Olympic Games women’s individual time trial last weekend.
The 32 year-old, who will retire at the end of this season, won Australia’s first gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics after clocking an impressive time of 39min 38.24sec in the wet, on Saturday afternoon.
The 32.4-kilometre course (which took riders through the middle of Paris before ending on the Pont Alexandre III Bridge) proved a challenging one for riders, with many coming to grief in reportedly ‘treacherous’ conditions.
Brown beat her nearest rival, Great Britain’s Anna Henderson, by a massive 1:31.59 with defending champion, American Chloe Dygert, crossing the finish line in third.
Australia last won an Olympic gold in road cycling in 2004 when Sara Carrigan won the women’s road race.
Speaking with media after the event, Brown said she had a plan to pace the race to win gold.
“I was able to execute my plan pretty much to perfection, if not better,” she reportedly said.
“I can’t ask for a better day.”
Brown, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion, will now prepare to compete in the women’s road race this Sunday, August 4.
“I’ll be able to race my next event a bit more relaxed, take it in my stride, and see what opportunities I can take,” she said.
“I’ve won a gold medal and that’s pretty good. I’m really proud to go out on such a high.”
Camperdown Cycling Club junior coordinator, Jocelyn Clark, said all club members joined those from around the nation in congratulating Grace on her performance.
“What a wonderful sight to see Grace on the podium,” she said.
“Throughout her racing career, Grace has always been very generous with communication with club members via social platforms.
“She has ridden the Colac to Warrnambool road race, Dirty Warny and the Cadel Evans’ women’s road race in the past and has always made time to chat to Camperdown locals and have her photo taken.”
Clark said Brown donated some riding gear from her Mitchelton Scott team to the junior riders at Camperdown several years ago and these were still being worn with pride today.
“Grace has always acknowledged her childhood town of Camperdown and has always been an advocate for women’s cycling and having girls in cycling promoted,” she said.
“As a club we’re very proud of Grace’s achievements over the many years our club has been following her.
“We’ve watched her name become a massive force in women’s cycling on the world circuit. She has followed the pathway of success through hard work, determination, dedication and sacrifice to reach the world podium and to win Olympic Gold.”
Clark said the club wished Brown every success for this weekend’s road race.
“I’m sure the whole town will be barracking for Grace from their loungerooms late into the night.”
