Triple medallist Katie-George Dunlevy reflects on 'incredible' Paralympics

It was something of a tale of mixed emotion for Katie-George Dunlevy as she headed to collect her latest Paralympic medal on Friday afternoon.

Dunlevy and Linda Kelly took silver in the Women's B road race, edged to gold by the British tandem of Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl.

Silver represented Dunlevy's third medal of the 2024 Paralympic Games and an eighth Paralympic medal of her stellar career.

“I wanted to win the gold and retain my title, so I'm a bit disappointed, but a silver medal is amazing,” Dunlevy, of Donegal Bay Cycling Club, said.

After 99.4km, the Irish pair were beaten to gold by only three seconds. As they snaked through the route, there was only wafer-thin margins between them for the most part, but Unwin and Holl had the greater sprint at the end.

Dunlevy and Kelly finished in 2:37:29 with Unwin and Holl clocking 2:37:26.

Dunlevy, whose father John is from Mountcharles, said: “It was a tough race. We were up the road with one of the GB bikes and they refused to do the work so we were just at the front trying to attack on each hill, trying to get away from them.

“We just couldn't get away from them and then the other GB bike got back to us.

“We just gave our all. They are better sprinters than us and just beat us on the sprint at the end. We had nothing left at that stage after giving so much on the hills. We're delighted with the silver medal.”

Dunlevy won gold in the time trial alongside Kelly and, piloted by Eve McCrystal, won silver in the 3000m individual pursuit.

Dunlevy said: “It was incredible. To come away with three medals is amazing. With all the set-backs, it means a lot. I'm just so proud that we have the medals.”

Kelly said the GB pair were “glued” to the bike of the Irish pair and said: “We tailed a bit of a gap, but they did come back. That's road racing as well and you just have to keep trying and trying and trying. Silver is amazing.”