Kate O'Brien's story is an extraordinary one: the 33-year-old Canadian began her sporting career as a bobsledder in 2013 before turning to cycling and competing in track at the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, a year after Rio, O'Brien was fighting for her life when an unforeseen accident nearly killed her.

In the summer of 2017, O'Brien's tire exploded while running behind Darnley on the track, sending her into the air, cracking her ribs, breaking her collarbone, puncturing her lung, and causing serious head injuries.

Doctors predicted that O'Brien would never be able to walk or talk properly, let alone ride a bike or compete, but she defied all odds and returned to the sport, eventually competing in para-cycling events.

In January 2020, O'Brien won two gold medals at the UCI Paracycling Track World Championships and set two world records, including 35.223 seconds in the women's C4 500m time trial.

Prior to her Paralympic appearance, O'Brien wrote on her Instagram: "I never imagined I could compete in the Paralympics. I never imagined I would be able to compete in the Paralympics. I'm not good at change. But after 33 years on this planet, I realize that change is inevitable and sometimes wonderful."

O'Brien currently holds the silver medal in the C4-5 time trial at the Tokyo Paralympics, behind Great Britain's Kadina Cox, who set a Paralympic record and a world record.

"I feel good. Considering I wasn't supposed to walk, slide, or ride, it kind of blows my mind to be back on the track and doing the sport I love," O'Brien said of his win.