On Monday, 2nd September, Oscar Kelly and his guide, Charlie Harding, made their Paralympics debut in Paris, competing together in triathlon. We are proud to support these amazing athletes who took on this challenging journey.
In this blog post, you’ll discover more about what para-triathlon is, how Oscar and Charlie got on the Games, and a recap of their Hiplok visit.
Oscar and Charlie took part in PTVI Triathlon, which refers to the Paratriathlon for Visually Impaired athletes. Just like standard triathlons, PTVI triathlon includes three parts: Swimming (750m), cycling (20km), and running (5km). The big difference is that PTVI athletes compete with the help of a guide who navigates the course alongside them.
So how does it work? During the race, the guide and athlete stick together every step of the way during the whole competition. They’re linked for the swim, ride a tandem bike for the cycling, and during the run, the guide helps keep the athlete on track, using a tether. Both the athlete and the guide need to finish together – this means teamwork is everything, and Oscar and Charlie showed just how strong theirs is during the competition. Despite facing a few challenges in a lead up to the race, they still managed a respectable 7th place finish amongst very a strong field.
Before the big race, Oscar and Charlie came by our HQ to meet with Ben and John, our co-founders, and the rest of the Hiplok team. We spent the day chatting about our products and shared some thoughts about their Paralympic journey.
We also had a chance to film them for a new video series, Road to Paris. They brought so much fun to the shoot, making the entire process feel enjoyable and entertaining. Oscar and Charlie showed their amazing effort and teamwork, reminding us of why we’re so proud to have them as part of our Hiplok Athlete Programme!
We all deserve to enjoy riding no matter what the limits are, and Oscar and Charlie show that sports are for everyone, whether it’s a social cycle ride or competing at the Paralympics!
What’s next? It’s just the start for Oscar and Charlie as they are off to the World Championships in a few weeks, and we’re excited to see them performing again. Keep an eye out for more updates – we’ll be cheering them on every step of the way! Well done guys!
To find out more about Oscar and Charlie’s journey to Paris 2024, click HERE.
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