McCrystal, riding alongside Dunlevy, won gold in the road race B and time trial B events at last year’s Paralympics, to add to their silver on the track in the 3,000 metres individual pursuit B category at Tokyo.

The pair also won two medals together at Rio 2016 with gold in the time trial B and silver in the road race B.

"I was got by COVID, like so many other people, in November so I’m still trying to get back," said McCrystal, as reported by LMFM Radio.

"It’s quite difficult actually. It set me back but I’m finally getting there.

"I had to come back little by little and that’s OK. COVID-19 put me on my hands and knees, I’m going to be honest with you.

"I’m as fit as a fiddle but I wasn’t well for 10 days.

"I followed the protocol from the Institute of Sport in returning to training after COVID and I ticked all the right boxes and didn’t do anything risky.

"It’s about seven weeks since I had it and I’m really only getting right now. I was OK but when I got on the bike to try and exercise, I saw a big change.

"I just had to be patient and give it time and patience so I trained consistently in little bits over the Christmas just to keep me going.

"COVID-19 wasn’t nice and it’s not nice for people and other people got it 10 times worse than I did, but it still wasn’t an easy time for me."

McCrystal recalled how Dunlevy wore an earpiece for the first time during the time trial, and that the pair knew victory had been secured when they heard their coach saying "well done girls, finish it strong and show the world what you can do."

Reflecting on the time trial victory McCrystal added: "The media really got behind us this time and everyone was able to see our joy."