Paralympians from all over the world have flocked to France for the Paris 2024 Games, with a record number of out LGBTQ+ athletes taking part. Among them are Ireland’s Richael Timothy and Katie-George Dunlevy, who join at least 36 other openly queer competitors across various disciplines. Both Timothy and Dunlevy compete in para-cycling, but in different events.
The former told GCN : “I’m excited. It’s my second Games and it’s obviously going to be a lot different to Tokyo. And I think obviously for me, I’m a lot stronger and I’m a lot better than I was in Tokyo.
” Timothy has set her sights on a top-six finish in her best events, but added: “I think you could get a top six or a bronze medal. It’ll be that tight.” On the other hand, Dunlevy is the defending Paralympic champion having won gold in the women’s Time Trial B and Road Race B events in Tokyo, alongside her pilot Eve McCrystal.
The pair also earned silver in the individual pursuit B, adding to the two medals they took home from Rio 2016. This time around, the 42-year-old is racing with Linda Kelly, with whom she has dominated at international tournaments including the UCI Para-cycling World Cup and Road World Championships. Speaking about Dunlevy, Richael Timothy said: “Katie has been to every Games since London.
..She has all the experience and she has all the medals as well to show for it.
So I suppose, whatever she’s doing, you’re trying to copy; that’s what needs to be done to get to.