Canadian Para cyclist Mel Pemble turns the page on Paralympic heartbreak with historic world title

Mel Pemble has twice as many world championship medals as she does years of experience in her sport.

The Para cyclist from Victoria added four more to her collection last month on the track in Rio de Janeiro, highlighted by a gold medal in the sprint.

Following a heartbreaking fourth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Pemble has bounced back with her best-ever medal haul at worlds as she sets her sights on L.A. 2028.

Born with cerebral palsy affecting her right side, Pemble competes in the C-class, which saw the introduction of the sprint and elimination events during this year’s worlds at the Rio Olympic Velodrome. She captured the historic sprint title on the final day, her eleventh career world medal.

"As I crossed the line ... knowing that I just won the first title ever, it was a super crazy feeling,” Pemble told CBC Sports. “It was a bit of relief, but mostly it was just super exciting to be able to bring that title back to Canada.

“It only really hit once I was standing on the podium and realizing what had just happened, and some tears started flowing."

It marked a moment of redemption for Pemble, who finished just 0.3 seconds away from a Paralympic medal in Paris. Competing at her first Games, Pemble was narrowly denied bronze in the C1-3 500-metre time trial after her time failed to hold up against the adjusted time of the more impaired German rider.

"After Paris and after the very, very close fourth place, I had a hard time keeping the motivation through the winter ... But [my coach] gave me a huge amount of space to deal with that emotion ... to get just as committed, and then have everything fall into place by last month at worlds. It was a relief for him as well."

Conquering challenges is nothing