LAUREN Parker remains focused on making the start line at this year's Paralympics in Tokyo despite being setback by a hospital stay on the Gold Coast.
The Newcastle paratriathlete took to social media on Wednesday by positing a video series of herself stretching with bands while sitting up in bed accompanied by inspirational messages.
"Still in hospital but doing everything I can #Tokyodreaming," the first one said.
It was followed by: "It's going to be a tough journey, but I'm a tough athlete. And I've been through worse before. Nothing is going to bring me down #nevergiveup."
The Belmont-born 32-year-old was admitted to hospital recently. She had pressure sores, which became infected.
She is now being treated with antibiotics, however, the duration of her stay remains unknown.
Long-time friend and training partner Brad Fernley hopes Parker will be out sooner rather than later, potentially even by this weekend.
Fernley said he was confident Parker would be able to regain peak fitness before the Games, which start in Japan on August 24.
"Even if we have to take four, six or eight weeks off, there's still plenty of time to get back to the fitness she had three weeks ago," Fernley said.
Parker, who is attempting to qualify for Tokyo in both paratriathlon and hand-cycling events, had travelled north of the border to simulate the Games program.
Fernley said Parker set a personal best time for paratriathlon but encountered chain issues in her hand-cycling race two days later.
Parker, who won the Newcastle Paratriathlon in February, was crowned world champion in 2019 and had been ranked No.1 last year before the Games were postponed for 12 months.
