Korey Boddington Claims Gold Medal at Paris Paralympics

Korey Boddington, a 28-year-old debutant in the Paralympics, demonstrated remarkable dedication to cycling by consuming only homemade burritos for his meals throughout the year. His commitment has borne fruit, as he secured a gold medal in the 1-kilometre time trial (C4-5) at the National Velodrome in Paris, achieving a time of 1 minute 1.65 seconds.

On the same day, Australian cyclists enjoyed an impressive performance, with Boddington’s win being one of the three medals awarded, including gold for Emily Petricola in the 3-kilometre individual pursuit (C4) and silver for Jessica Gallagher and Caitlin Ward in the 1-kilometre tandem time trial (B).

Boddington’s journey to this moment has been marked by significant challenges. He has an acquired brain injury and an impaired right arm stemming from two near-fatal accidents in his childhood. The first incident occurred when he was 11 years old, involving a collision with a van while playing cricket. This was followed by another serious motocross crash at age 15, which left him in a coma for three weeks.

Having only taken up track cycling early in 2023, Boddington quickly realized his passion for the sport. He declared, “There’s something about absolutely giving it your all, absolutely rinsing yourself, just leaving nothing.” His dedication led him to win four national titles at the Australian championships in December, despite never having left Queensland prior to this.

Nicknamed “Flying Burrito,” Boddington possesses a penchant for routines, which extends to his unique dietary approach, centered around burrito wraps. He stated, “I eat a burrito for breakfast, a burrito for lunch and a burrito for dinner. Even here, I’m still eating burritos.”

Following Boddington’s victory, Emily Petricola also secured gold in the women’s C4 3,000m individual pursuit, catching her opponent, New Zealander Anna Taylor, before the final lap. Petricola, who has been living with multiple sclerosis since 27, described her emotional journey to victory, attributing her success to the support of medical staff and her family.

Jessica Gallagher, competing in her fifth Paralympics, paired with sighted pilot Caitlin Ward and clinched a silver medal in the tandem event. Gallagher expressed her joy, reflecting on her journey back to competition after facing personal challenges.