Slovak para-cyclist Jozef Metelka celebrates winning the gold medal in the C4 category 4000m track pursuit final at the XVII Paralympic Games in Paris on August 31, 2024. (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
Slovak para-cyclist Jozef Metelka captured the gold in the men’s C4 4000m pursuit at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, marking Slovakia’s first gold medal of the event.
“There was more luck than sense involved. This hasn’t happened since the time of the dinosaurs; it’s something completely unexpected,” said Metelka, as quoted by the TASR agency.
In a dramatic final on Saturday, Metelka, 37, secured victory after his 20-year-old British rival, Archie Atkinson, crashed during the final. Metelka initially trailed behind the Brit, who looked poised to take gold with a blistering pace. But Atkinson fell, handing Metelka the victory. Metelka, who is trained by British cycling coach Kyleigh Manners, crossed the finish line with a time of 4:27.920.
This gold medal completes Metelka’s golden hat-trick in the event, following his triumphs at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
In recent years, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has revised the classification system for disabilities in para-cycling. As a result, athletes with both legs now fall into Metelka’s C4 category, and despite being a two-time defending champion, the Slovak para-cyclist was no longer the top favourite for gold.
“Just six months ago, the idea of winning a third gold medal was nothing more than a dream,” he said.
Atkinson took the silver medal on Saturday, despite his fall. France’s Gatien Le Rousseau took bronze after defeating fellow countryman Kevin Le Cunff.
