Kadeena Cox completed an emotional Paris 2024 redemption arc with team sprint gold.

The 33-year-old combined with Jody Cundy and Jaco van Gass to successfully defend their mixed team sprint title in the velodrome in a time of 47.738s, beating Spain by almost two seconds.

It was a story of perseverance and determination for Cox who crashed out of the women's 500m time trial on the opening day of competition and was inconsolable in the middle of the track.

But after a pep talk from teammates Cundy and van Gass, returned to the start line in Paris and admitted that gold tasted all the sweeter because of it.

"After the highs and lows of this week it's nice to come out and win a Paralympic title," said Cox, who is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – which has been vital on their pathway to the Paris 2024 Games. 

"It took a lot to get me back out here and I had to climb over a big hurdle to get back onto the start line.

"I tried not to tear up as I got out for the qualifiers as I was scared and didn't want to disappoint the team or let myself down.

"Being able to overcome that and go better in the final, I'll give myself a pat on the pack."

Cox could be seen practicing her start alongside coaches in the velodrome warm-up zone ahead of her qualifying race, but the Leeds athlete shook off any gate nerves that she harboured in a speedy first lap to qualify for the gold medal race and delivered once more for gold.

Cox passed the baton on to van Gass before Cundy brought it home for Great Britain, just 0.159 seconds shy of the world record they set in Tokyo.

And with her teammates alongside her feeding words of encouragement, Cox noted that if it was not for them she might not have been back out fighting for gold.

"The guys have been great cheerleaders and giving me such encouragement which is why it's good to have teammates that are constantly checking on you and reminding you that you are capable," she said.

"We're a great team in general and I appreciate every single one of them.

"I wouldn't have even got out on the track if it wasn't for them.

"We’re such a great team as a whole. We’ve got a great support team behind us, and you can’t forget that.

"You see the performances on the track but behind us you have the coaches, the medical team, all the people who are looking after us."

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