By Nick Butler

Kate Horan has broken the flying 200m world record ©TwitterNew Zealand's athlete turned Para-cyclist Kate Horan has broken the flying 200 metres world record during the country's National Championships in Cambridge.


Horan, a two-time Paralympian who won a 200m T44 athletics silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Games before switching sports in 2013, has enjoyed a quick rise since in her new discipline, winning a 500m time trial silver at last year's World Championships in Aguascalientes.

This time around the 39-year-old, a one-leg amputee below the knee, set a superb time of 13.551 seconds to take two seconds off the time of Great Britain's Zoe Marusiak in 2003.

"I am so thrilled to break the world record today, it has made me think anything is possible," she said afterwards.

"My family were in the stands cheering me on and it was such a boost.

"I also have the most amazing world class coaches around me that believe in me, which makes me believe in myself.

"It is achievements like this that make all the training worthwhile and motivate me to continue to work hard on the road to Rio."

Kate Horan switched to cycling after competing in athletics at two Paralympic Games ©Getty ImagesKate Horan switched to cycling after competing in athletics at two Paralympic Games ©Getty Images



Although the flying 200m event is a rarely competed distance due to the fact it is not on the Paralympic programme, the performance was a strong indicator of her strong improvement, and Rio 2016 medal potential in other events.

"Kate's world record breaking performance today is a great milestone for Kate who is making a great transition from another sport," said Brendon Cameron, Paralympics New Zealand's Para-Cycling Head Performance Coach.

"This bodes well as she pursues her Paralympic dream of not only representing New Zealand at her third Paralympic Games in Rio 2016, but to be also chasing a medal."

New Zealand will be seeking to improve upon their four medal haul in cycling events at the London 2012 Games, which included a gold for Phillipa Gray and pilot Laura Thompson in the women's pursuit.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
May 2013: Paralympics New Zealand announces road cycling squad for international events