Meet Paralympic cyclist Lora Fachie

Meet Paralympic cyclist, Lora Fachie MBE

Lora and her sighted tandem partner, Corrine Hall, with their gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Image ©SWPix

On Friday 3rd December we held a virtual event with Lora Fachie MBE, Paralympic cyclist. Lora is visually impaired and grew up in a family where blindness was not a barrier to achieving. She has always enjoyed sport, participating in athletics and then in 2009 in cycling, competing on a tandem with a fully sighted athlete. Lora has competed at three Paralympics winning gold at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games.

For the evening session, Lora will be joined by her husband, Neil Fachie MBE, Paralympic cyclist. Neil, who has a visual impairment, has competed at four Paralympics winning gold at the London 2012 and Tokyo 2020 Games.

Lora says about winning a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics held this year,

My cycling career has been plagued with highs and lows ... The high, breaking the world record on the way to defending my Paralympic title at the Tokyo Games, 16 minutes after my husband, Neil, also won gold.

Lora and Neil with their gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Image ©SWPix

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Schools session

After winning the gold medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Lora Fachie and pilot Corrine Hall had a Paralympic title to defend when they arrived in the Velodrome at the Tokyo 2020 Games.  They responded by breaking the world record in the qualifying round, going on to successfully defend their title in the Women’s B 3000m event. 

Lora has a wealth of experience and a varied and remarkable skill set to motivate young people who have their own dreams of achievement.  Alongside her sporting career she has a successful food and nutrition blog and hosts cookery demonstrations for the visually impaired. 

Helen Watson, BSL interpreter, was in attendance.

Resources

We have a wealth of learning resources and activities that you can explore with children of all ages here and cycling themed activities below.

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Q & A session with Lora joined by Neil for adults and children aged 12+

After breaking the world record in her qualifying race at the Velodrome at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Lora Fachie and pilot Corrine Hall responded to the pressure of retaining their Paralympic title in the Women’s B 3000m event by winning the gold medal just minutes after husband Neil, and pilot Matt Rotherham, smashed their own world record taking gold in the Men’s B 1000m time trial.

This British Para-cycling power couple shared their stories, revealing the pressures, the highs and the lows of pursuing a career in para-sport and striving to reach that unique career goal of a Paralympic title, at the same time, in the same place, at the same Paralympic Games.

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Para cycling activities

Take part in our activities about the sport of Paralympic cycling including an interactive Q&A with cyclist Lora Fachie.

Ask the athlete

What questions would you like to ask our Paralympic cyclist, Lora Fachie? Click on a question and find out what Lora said in our Q&A session, designed by our volunteer, Teri Stevens. 

Cycling Quiz

Have a go at our Paralympic cycling quiz and find out how much you know about this para sport. Click here or on the image below to view or download.

When you've had a go you can look up the answers here.

Widgit cycling quiz

Take a look at our Widgit cycling quiz. Click here or on the image below to view or download.

Learn how to sign with Marie

Marie shows us how to sign 'cycling' using British Sign Language.

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