Aaron Keith Posts Fifth Fastest Time In Paralympic Games Debut

Aaron Keith made his Paralympic Games debut at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. (Photo: Casey B. Gibson/USOPC)

TOKYO - Team USA posted two top-5 finishes and a seventh place finish on day two of Para-cycling competition from the Izu Velodrome. Aaron Keith (Woodinville, Washington) made his Paralympic debut and was the first American to take to the track during the 3000m individual pursuit MC1 qualifying race against a field of talented riders. 

Keith earned a fifth place finish by posting a time of 3:45.354. Three-time Paralympian Joe Berenyi (Aurora, Illinois) hit the track next in the 3000m individual pursuit MC3 race. After facing the eventual silver medalist Graham Finlay from Great Britain, Berenyi finished seventh with a time of 3:35.652. 

The final Team USA rider of the day was two-time Paralympian Chris Murphy (Rancho Cucamonga, California) who entered the day in search of his first Paralympic medal. Murphy finished the 1000m time trial MC5 the world’s fifth best rider with a time of 1:05.078.

QUOTES

Aaron Keith

For me, I learned about Para-cycling and a lot of Paralympic sports just before London [2012], so hopefully this spotlight draws attention to people who want to ride their bikes or compete, or both. People with disabilities aren't afraid to come out and show what they're worth, show their abilities and compete on an even scale.

Chris Murphy

It's amazing. I mean, being here in of itself - this amazing. Not many people get to do this, and I don't take that for granted. It's definitely been a long time coming, and the weight itself is what it is. There's way worse problems in the world, you know? But I’m glad that it finally came and glad to be here. 

It's just exciting to see how Paralympic sports are developing, and the times people are putting down are amazing. The gap between what a Paralympic athlete can do and what everybody else can do is getting smaller. It's awesome just to be here.

FULL RESULTS

Check out the results from the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

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