Paisley Paralympic cycling legend Aileen McGlynn OBE added yet another medal to her already massive haul after a stunning comeback performance in Tokyo.
The three-time tandem cycling gold medallist and her pilot Helen Scott added a second Paralympic women’s b 1000m time trial silver to their collections with a sensational ride at the Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka.
McGlynn, 48, thought her career on the track was over when she was axed from Lottery funding, despite picking up two medals at London 2012.
Download the FREE Renfrewshire Live app now for all the latest news, features and sport in your area. Available on both Android and Apple. Download here: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial
She was left off Team GB at Rio 2016, only returning to the sport last year when Sophie Thornhill retired and the call went out for replacements.
The superstar more that justified that decision with a remarkable PB in the 1000m time trial final, narrowly missing out on gold when Larissa Klaassen of the Netherlands pipped her to top spot on the podium in the last ride of the competition, courtesy of a time of 1:05.291.
While McGlynn admitted she had doubts as to whether she made the right decision to get back on the bike, she proved herself right by bagging silver with a PB.
She said: “It’s been amazing. Around this time last year, I wasn’t training and to be here at another Paralympic Games, to set a lifetime personal best time and to come away with another silver medal is just phenomenal.
“We’ve only been back training together for the last 12 weeks and we have had a fantastic time training together along with the support from British Cycling.
“I was riding my bike last year, I wasn’t training, I was just enjoying cycling. Not specific training.
“I got back into it when Sophie retired. I was asked if I was still cycling. I was asked to come and try out at a testing day. So, I got my finger out and got training again.
“There were doubts, yeah. I thought it would be tough call for anybody to get back and be ready in a year.
“But I thought if I don’t do it, I will always wonder. So, I gave it everything. Here I am.”
The pair’s achievement brought Britain’s fourth cycling medal of the Games following gold for Dame Sarah Storey and silvers for Crystal Lane-Wright and Steve Bate on day one.
McGlynn, who now has three silver and three gold Paralympic medals, still has another shot at bagging another gold in Tokyo in the women’s B 3000m individual pursuit, with the first qualifying round this Saturday.
Sportscotland director of high performance Mike Whittingham paid tribute to the talented cyclist for delivering yet more success for herself and her country.
He said: “Once again Aileen has delivered on the global stage to bring home the silver medal.
“It was a remarkable effort from Aileen and her pilot Helen Scott, who have made history with this result.
“The whole country is proud of Aileen, her coaches and of course everyone at British and Scottish Cycling.”
