Memories of Rio push Chaman to new heights

“Some time has passed already, but me and the rest of the Para athletes are still thinking about Rio 2016."

Despite finishing top of the 2017 UCI Road World Cup overall rankings and being well into the season, Brazilian Para cyclist Lauro Cesar Chaman still has his mind on what the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games were.

The 30-year-old admits he has never experienced something like that. Chaman won silver in the men’s road race C4-5 and bronze in the time trial C5 in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

“2016 was the coolest and happiest year. My father, mother, uncles and friends were there, cheering for me, especially at the time trial event,” he recalled.

“Some time has passed already, but me and the rest of the Para athletes are still thinking about Rio 2016. I want to do a better preparation for Tokyo 2020 and, who knows, get the gold medal.”

Chaman is certainly on the right track, currently world number one for road racing, and has improved his track ranking from sixth in 2016 to third this season.

He is currently devoted fully to training, which appears to have paid dividends.

“I’m very thankful to the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and the Brazilian Cycling Federation. After the Paralympics, I kept training and won medals at all the competitions I took part in, including a silver and two bronze at the 2017 Track Worlds in Los Angeles, USA, last March.”

The rising star has set himself well with strong performances in both the road and track, and is in a great position heading into the rest of 2017 and beyond. But, despite dreaming about competing at the 2020 Paralympics, Chaman understands there is a long way to go.

“Tokyo is in my head, but, my focus now is on the Road World Championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, from 31 August-3 September. And I also want to win medals at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.”