Athletes Embrace ‘Joie de Vivre’ Despite Narrowly Missing Podium

MONTIGNY-LE-BRETONNEAUX, FRANCE - In a true triumph of spirit, Team USA athletes celebrated the love of competition as they advanced to the Para-cycling track finals on day two of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Two-time Paralympic bronze medalist Samantha Bosco (Claremont, California) finished fourth in the 3000-meter individual pursuit C4 qualifying round, ushering in an opportunity to clinch a third Paralympic medal – an ambition Bosco has sought with steely determination since recovering from an unexpected injury that kept her from competing in Tokyo 2020.

Bosco faced off against Team Canada in the final race for bronze, missing the margin by just under 1.65 seconds and finishing fourth in rank.

“I couldn’t have lost the podium to better women in the field. They’re amazing and I am so proud of them,” Bosco said. “I am so full of joy, just to be here and to be racing. Medals aside, life’s amazing.”

Bosco resumes cycling on Sept. 4 where she targets a top finish in the road competitions.

In their Paralympic Games debut, Hannah Chadwick (El Cerrito, California) and pilot Skyler Espinoza (Freeport, Maine) broke a personal record to reach the final round of the women’s B 1000m time trial. Although the team did not reach the podium, they relished the delights that the Paralympic Games and their partnership have afforded them, including tasting the now-viral Paralympic Village chocolate muffins, enjoying team meals à la matching outfits, and holding weekly personal check-ins throughout the training season.

“We’re going to be friends forever, for life, that will never change,” Espinoza said, as Chadwick was overcome with emotion imagining a day that she might not compete with Espinoza as her pilot. “A lot of people think that the Paralympic or Olympic experience is only about medals, but I think we’ve been on such a cool journey to get here. Making the team is a huge accomplishment.”

Chadwick and Espinoza will have a second chance to haul in hardware as they compete again at the track on Sept. 1.

While day two of competition closes without a podium finish for Team USA, there is still enterprise left in the tank. Racing picks up again at the Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelineson on Aug. 31, streaming live on Peacock, NBC, USA Network and CNBC.

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For media and photo inquiries, please contact Rebecca.Beard@usopc.org.

Team USA Results

Finals

Samantha Bosco: 4^th, 3000m individual pursuit women’s C4

Hannah Chadwick and Skyler Espinoza (pilot): 6th, 1000m time trial women’s B

Qualifying

Shawn Morelli: 7^th, 3000m individual pursuit women’s C4

Bryan Larsen: 14^th, 1000m time trial men’s C4-5

Elouan Gardon: 15^th, 1000m time trial men’s C4-5

Athletes Embrace ‘Joie de Vivre’ Despite Narrowly Missing Podium

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