Track and road Para cyclist Devon Briggs has made the difficult decision to withdraw from his final two events of the Paralympic Games – the Men’s C3 Individual Time Trial and Men’s C1-3 Road Race.
Briggs competed in his first two events of these Games with a fractured sacrum and dislocated coccyx which he suffered in a crash in his final training session in Switzerland.
The 20-year-old Cambridge-based athlete showed extraordinary courage and determination to get to the start line for his track races, eventually placing fifth in the Men’s C3 3000m Individual Pursuit and seventh in the Men’s C 1-3 1000m Time Trial.
However, as Briggs is more of a track specialist, and with the support of his medical team he has decided to withdraw from the C3 Individual Time Trial and Men’s C1-3 Road Race, and instead look forward to returning home to begin his rehabilitation and recovery from his injuries.
New Zealand Paralympic Team Chef de Mission, Raylene Bates, said the wider team were incredibly proud of Devon and understood and supported his decision.
“Devon has been an exemplary member of the NZ Paralympic Team in Paris,” she said “To be able to compete to the level that he did, with the injuries he suffered, is a true testament to his character. “
“Devon’s grit and determination to compete was incredible and we are extremely proud of the way he has represented himself, his team and his country at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.”
“We look forward to seeing Devon return to full fitness and continue to excel in the sport of Para cycling.”
