Cyclists Park Hyun-mi and Kim Chae-yeon Win Two Golds at Asian Para Games with Dramatic Comeback by 0.095 Seconds

Park Hyun-mi, a cyclist and mother of twin sons, has claimed the top of the podium for two consecutive days at her first Asian Para Games.

After capturing her first gold medal with a new tournament record the previous day, she secured her second gold with a dramatic comeback victory by a margin of 0.095 seconds.

Park Hyun-mi and her pilot Kim Chae-yeon won the women's 1,000m time trial (sport class B) final at the Izu Velodrome in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games with a time of 1 minute and 10.642 seconds.

The standings flipped in the final 250 meters.

Trailing the Thai pair of Watcharobon Bunmarat and Pannarai Rashi by 0.662 seconds up to the 750-meter mark, the two athletes staged a fierce comeback in the final stretch to finish 0.095 seconds ahead in the final standings.

Following the new tournament record of 5 minutes and 1.936 seconds they set the previous day in the women's 4,000m individual pursuit, they added yet another gold medal to their tally.

After her race the previous day, Park said, As a track specialist, my next goal is the 1,000m time trial gold medal, and she fulfilled that promise the very next day.

Visually impaired cyclists compete using tandem bicycles, which are two-seater bikes.

Kim Chae-yeon, an able-bodied pilot sitting in the front, steers and guides the ride, while Park Hyun-mi sits in the back, pedaling alongside to build speed.

Pooling their strength and breathing as one on a single bicycle, the two athletes share their medals.

For Park, this victory is a precious fruit born from her renewed relationship with cycling.

Having lost her sight in a bicycle accident 10 years ago, she began pedaling again and has now risen to the top of the Asian stage.

Park, who is also a mother raising twin sons, teamed up with Kim Chae-yeon, who is 19 years her junior, to stand at the very top of the podium twice in two days.

Having achieved two gold medals at their first Asian Para Games, the duo is now eyeing additional gold medals in road events.

They will compete in the individual time trial on October 21 and the road race on October 23 on the road course of the Izu Velodrome, challenging for three or more gold medals.

Meanwhile, in the men's track 4,000m individual pursuit (sport class C5) held on this day, Jeong Jae-seob won the bronze medal.
(Photo: Provided by the Korean Paralympic Committee, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.