Paralympic Champions and Hopefuls Speed to Final Opportunity for Paris 2024 Qualification

LOMA LINDA, CALIFORNIA – As the countdown begins for the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, 40 U.S. Para-cycling athletes gathered to participate in the PossAbilities U.S. Paralympics Cycling Time Trial, the final selection event for road cyclists to vie for a highly coveted spot on the Team USA roster.  The selection committee will convene this evening and prepare to unveil the six women and seven men who will be selected to ride for Team USA.  

Fully aware of the significance, athletes left nothing in reserve as they navigated the course. Paralympic hopeful Kate Brim (Lowell, Michigan), who finished on top in women’s H2 with a finish time of 27:06.97, contributed her results to mental and physical readiness.  

“Every single one of us came here knowing that we have given it our all for this whole quad leading to these Games, knowing that this is the final stage before selection,” Brim said. “I think that’s what helped set the mood for this. We are all going into this one hundred percent, we’ve done our best, and today was the day that all of us showed that on the racecourse.”  

Seventeen-time Paralympic medalist Oksana Masters (Louisville, Kentucky) aimed to clinch her seventh consecutive appearance as a Team USA competitor. Although a seasoned Paralympic veteran, and a dual threat in winter and summer sport, she remains excited by the opportunity to hear her name secured to the roster once again, and eager to seek redemption on past performances.  

“It would mean the absolute world to me. Even though it’s my seventh Paralympic Games, if I make it, it’s my third in Para-cycling, and the thing I am remembering is when I got fourth and fifth place in Rio,” Masters said. “I want to make sure that I repeat what I did in Tokyo, and make sure that I know how to race my bike, and race it well, and this time, race it with confidence.”  

The reprisal of the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 was a common theme among athletes, including five-time world champion Samantha Bosco (Claremont, California), who ended today’s time trial in first place among the women’s C1-5 competitors. Bosco was named to the Tokyo 2020 team but was not able to participate due to a serious head injury sustained while training just before the Paralympic Games. Since then, she’s been on a willful mission to complete the open tasks she set out to do years ago.  

“I think just believing in myself and believing that I had a time to shine,” said Bosco. “I just had to be patient and wait for it. And I got to do it in front of everyone with me when it was the hardest after Tokyo, when I couldn’t even get off the couch with my head spinning. I’m so ready. I just want to be feet on the ground in Paris and get a chance to show myself what I’m capable of.”  

As America readies to take the world stage in the City of Light, Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Freddie de los Santos (Hopewell Junction, New York) reflected on the patriotic significance that a ticket to Paris would hold for him, particularly as a retired veteran of the United States Army who served in conflict.  

“I have no way to describe it. To be able to represent the country, my community, and my family, and brothers in arms, that’s what it’s all about,” de los Santos said. “It’s about representing the country, and those that didn’t make it back.” 

From a statistical standpoint, 2023 world champion Dennis Connors (Beaverton, Oregon) was well-positioned ahead of the competition to contend for his first-ever Paralympic Games, which he bolstered with steady and consistent preparation to culminate a solid finish.   

“I don’t approach any race differently. I do my best in every race,” Connors said. “It would be an honor and privilege to represent the country and go to Paris to show the world what we can do.”  

Taking second in men’s MH3, Paralympian Ryan Pinney (Phoenix, Arizona) made a strong showing in the day’s time trial, following recovery from a physical injury he incurred a mere 11 weeks ago. Personal determination and resilience fueled his comeback, but he acknowledged the vital role of friends and family in propelling him forward. 

“I surround myself with people who believe in me, and people that lift me up,” Pinney said. “No matter what, they’ve been there since I got a spinal cord injury. They’ve been there through ups and downs, and through this last leg injury eleven weeks ago. They were there at my bedside going, ‘You can do it. We got you. Anything you need, we’re here for you.’ It’s so cool to have my support system here.”  

The Paralympic Team Naming Ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Mitten Building in Redlands, California, beginning at 10 a.m. PDT on Monday, July 8 where the 13-member team will be announced publicly. Competition results for the PossAbilities U.S. Paralympics Cycling Team Trial can be found here. 

Follow U.S. Paralympics Cycling on Facebook, X, and Instagram for updates.  

For media and photo inquiries, please contact Kristen.Gowdy@usopc.org.  

Medalists

MT2 

1– Dennis Connors  

2– Michael Davis  

3 – Matthew Rodriguez  

WT2  

1– Monica Sereda  

2– Amanda Kloepfer  

MH1-5  

1– Brandon Lyons  

2– Ryan Pinney  

3– Matt Tingley  

WH1-5 

1– Katerina Brim  

2 – Oksana Masters 

3 – Jenna Rollman  

MC1-5  

1– Elouan Gardon  

2– Kyle Pittman  

3– CJ Howard  

WC1-5 

1 – Smantha Bosco  

2 – Shawn Morelli  

3 – Clara Brown  

WB  

1– Amy Dixon (stoker), Ava Hachman (pilot)  

MB  

1 – Brandon Walton (stoker), Isaac Bryant (pilot)  

2– Stan Moore (stoker), Peter Dorantes (pilot)