In an exciting development for New Zealand Para cycling, Paralympian #194 Emma Foy has returned to the Para sport after a four-year break and is set to compete this week at the 2025 UCI Para cycling Track World Championships (Friday 17 October to Monday 20 October NZ time) in Rio, alongside her pilot, Jessie Hodges.
Foy, a six-time world champion, claimed a silver medal in the Women’s 3000m Individual Pursuit B and bronze in the Women’s Road Race B at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, but opted to step away from the Para sport in 2021.
However, after receiving a call from Cycling NZ Lead Para Cycling Coach Brendon Cameron encouraging her return, the 36-year-old felt the time was right to re-engage in Para cycling.
“I thought about the question for a couple of weeks to see if it was the right choice, but I didn’t need much convincing,” explains Emma, who returned to the Para sport in April this year. “I love being a Para athlete and I’m very excited to see what we can do. It’s cool to ride with someone of Jessie’s calibre on the tandem.”
“I have come back with a slightly different perspective in that I would like to enjoy my success a little bit more rather than move quickly on to the next thing. But that drive to be number one has not gone. I’m keen to get back to the top and with Jessie I think that it is possible.”
Hodges, who competed as a non-disabled rider at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, also received a call from Cameron asking if she would be keen to pilot. Impressed by Foy’s track record in Para cycling, Hodges had little hesitation in accepting the challenge. However, she also shared some personal motivations to engage in Para sport.
“I have a family member with a disability, so I know it is a privilege to be around these amazing people,” explains Hodges, 28. “I also went to primary school with Nicole Murray (Paralympian #222), so for me it is quite a full circle moment.”
With trust playing a critical component in the relationship between stoker and pilot, the pair have quickly gelled. Sharing a similar philosophy focused on an “organised and structured” approach has helped form a tight bond. Yet as Hodges concedes, in many respects, she has been the junior partner.
“It’s been a steep learning curve for me but because Emma has so much tandem experience, she has guided me and shown me the ropes, which has been awesome,” adds Hodges who also works in real estate.
“Sometimes we find we don’t need to communicate on the bike. We’ve been riding some big efforts, but we’ve been thinking the same thing. The times reflect that trust we have.”
Foy and Hodges are entered in the Women’s Tandem 1km Time Trial, Women’s Tandem Sprint and Women’s Tandem 4000m Individual Pursuit, with the latter event 1000m further in distance than when the double Paralympic medallist left the sport four years ago.
This will present a different challenge, but one which Foy is confident of meeting.
So, what would she like to achieve alongside Hodges on her return to Rio nine years after winning a pair of Paralympic medals in the Brazilian city?
“We would like to achieve some solid races,” she explains. “We are still figuring out quite a bit as a new partnership, but we plan to race the kilo and the pursuit and see how it goes.”
Which other Kiwis compete at the event?
Besides Foy and Hodges, three further Kiwis will take to the track in Rio. These are led by Paralympian #222 Nicole Murray, a bronze medallist in the Women’s 3000m Individual Pursuit C5 at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Murray, who also claimed a bronze medal in the Women’s Individual Time Trial C5 at the UCI Para cycling Road World Championship in Belgium in August, has a busy schedule and competes in the C5 1km Time Trial, Elimination Race, Scratch Race and Sprint events.
Paralympian #229 Devon Briggs will be in action, defending the Men’s 1km Time Trial C3 title he claimed in the 2024 edition. The 21-year-old is also entered in the Elimination Race, Scratch Race and Sprint C3 events.
Rounding out the New Zealand team is World Championship debutant Siobhan Terry, who featured in intake one of the Para Sport Collective, supported by the ACC. The C4 rider races in the 1km Time Trial, Elimination Race, Scratch Race and Sprint event.
Where can I watch the action?
For a full event schedule go here
For live results go here
Where can I watch the action?
Coverage of the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships – finals sessions only – can be viewed via the UCI YouTube channel here.
