Mel Pemble hauls in 1st Canadian gold medal at Para-cycling track worlds
22-year-old, in 1st world championships, tops podium in WC3 scratch race
Mel Pemble can officially call herself a world champion.
The 22-year-old won gold in the WC3 scratch race at the Para-cycling track worlds championships on Friday, bringing home Canada's first title at the event in the process.
Pemble, who represented Canada in Para alpine skiing at the 2018 Paralympics, also smashed the world record in the women's C3 omnium 200-metre sprint on Thursday.
The 22-year-old is making her world-championship debut in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Born in England, Pemble moved to Canada in 2009 and calls Victoria her hometown.
"This is so surreal," Pemble said. "This is a goal I had maybe in two years time, maybe next year. For it to happen at my first world championships, made it quite the day. I was really nervous today, so I'm glad it paid off."
Alexandre Hayward of Quispamsis, N.B., made his Para-cycling track worlds debut on Friday, racing to a personal best in the men's C3 individual pursuit with a time of 1:14.908. The 25-year-old failed to advance after finishing fifth overall.
Hayward previously represented Canada at the Para-cycling road world championships in August, and won a national road title in the men's C1-5 category in 2021.
Keely Shaw, who won bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics, wrote on Instagram Friday that she was forced to withdraw after contracting COVID-19.
"It's supposed to be race day, but I finally caught COVID and now my skinsuits and Red Bull are mocking me," the native of Midale, Sask., wrote on a picture of her uniforms alongside the energy drink.
Live coverage of the world championships is available with French commentary on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem. Action continues through Sunday.
Saturday, Oct. 22:
- 3 a.m. ET: 3km individual pursuit qualifying (WC2, WC3, MC1, MC2, WC1), 4km individual pursuit qualifying (MB)
- 7:30 a.m. ET: 1km time trial qualifying (MC5, MC4, MC3, WB)
- 11 a.m. ET: 3km individual pursuit finals (WC1, WC2, WC3, MC1, MC2), 1km time trial finals (WB, MC5, MC4, MC3), 10km scratch race (WC5, WC4), 4km individual pursuit final (MB)
Sunday, Oct. 23:
- 3 a.m. ET: Sprint qualifying and 1/4 finals (WB, MB), 750m team sprint qualifying (M/WC1-5)
- 8:30 a.m. ET: 15km scratch race (MC2), sprint finals (WB, MB), 10km scratch race (WC1-2), 750m team sprint final (M/WC1-5)
