Amanda Reid returns to Rio looking for gold

“I think just going back to where I won a silver medal is going to be an amazing feeling. This time I’m going to go after the gold on the track to keep my World Championship - that would be nice.”

Amanda Reid has good memories from Rio de Janeiro, where she claimed silver in the women’s 500m time trial C1-3 at the 2016 Paralympic Games.

The Australian will now return to the Brazilian city to compete at the 2018 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships, from 22-25 March, hoping to take a leap forward.

“I think just going back to where I won a silver medal is going to be an amazing feeling. This time I’m going to go after the gold on the track to keep my World Championship - that would be nice,” she said.

Her form at the Rio Paralympics was good, but since then she has stepped it up a gear. Reid went undefeated at the 2017 Track World Championships in Los Angeles, USA, winning the 500m time trial C2, the individual pursuit C2 and the scratch C1-3.

“It was pretty exciting. I did not expect to win the individual pursuit as it is not my main event.”

Reid believes that her support network is the reason for this recent success.

“My coach is always there, knowing when to push me and when not to. And the support of family and friends helps.”

Reid is training six or seven days a week to ensure that she enters this year’s Track Worlds in the best form possible.

Australia will head to Rio with a 16-rider team, including reigning world champions David Nicholas and Simone Kennedy. Reid believes that the team is strong and will compete well.

“I think everybody has the potential to achieve a medal at the World Championships. Hopefully we can all come away with a medal, that would be nice, or personal bests, if they can achieve what their goals are and I can achieve my goals.”

Reid achieved more than just world number one in 2017, she was named on the Indigenous Paralympian Honour Board. The board honours Australians with Indigenous heritage who have achieved at a high level on the Paralympic stage.

“I find it amazing that we’re able to have this board and be recognised by it – it was such an amazing feeling. It just means that we can be recognized in our communities as well and that’s a big thing. It’s just pride, you’ve got pride that you’re representing your mob when you do that.”

Reid is hoping to replicate last year’s achievements and bring home more gold to Australia.

“I’m hoping to be world champion again, that would be nice.”