Sarnya Parker

Sarnya Marie Parker, OAM^[1] (born 6 June 1975)^[2] is an Australian visually impaired paralympic tandem cyclist. She was born in the South Australian town of Loxton.^[2] Before she took up Paralympic tandem cycling, she was a nationally ranked top-ten pentathlete.^[3] She won a gold medal in long jump at the 1999 FESPIC Games in Thailand.^[2]

Sarnya Parker

Parker (shown left) with her cycling partner Tania Modra, ecstatic after winning gold in the 2000 Summer Paralympics Women's Tandem Individual Pursuit Open event
Personal information
Full name	Sarnya Marie Parker
Born	(1975-06-06) 6 June 1975 (age 49) Loxton, South Australia
Sport
Sport	Para-cycling
Disability	Visual impairment
Medal record Women's cycling Representing  Australia Paralympic Games 2000 Sydney 1 km Time Trial Tandem open 2000 Sydney Individual Pursuit Tandem open IPC Track and Road World Championships 2002 Altenstadt Women's 200 m Time Trial B & VI 2002 Altenstadt Women's 1000 m Time Trial B & VI 2002 Altenstadt Women's Road Race B & VI 2002 Altenstadt Women's Road Time Trial B & VI

Eighteen months before the 2000 Sydney Games, visually impaired Paralympic tandem cyclist Kieran Modra convinced her to switch from athletics to cycling because of the limited opportunities in the former sport for Paralympians.^[4] He introduced her to his sister, Tania Modra, despite Modra's lack of competitive cycling experience, and she became Parker's pilot.^[3] She won two gold medals for Australia with Modra at the 2000 Sydney Games in the 1 km road race and 3000 m pursuit,^[3][5] for which she received a Medal of the Order of Australia;^[1] the pair broke the world record in both events.^[6] In 2000, she received an Australian Sports Medal.^[7] In 2009, a walking trail on the riverfront of Loxton was named after her.^[8]

References

1. "Parker, Sarnya Marie, OAM". It's an Honour. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
2. Media guide : 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games. Sydney, Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2000.
3. "Pedal pals in hot seat". The Advertiser. 17 October 2000. p. 70.
4. Ryan, Melissa (21 October 2000). "Track switch yields victory". The Age. p. 19.
5. "Athlete Search Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
6. Ryan, Melissa (22 October 2000). "Another record as pair cut a golden swathe". The Age. p. 8.
7. "Parker, Sarnya: Australian Sports Medal". It's an Honour. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
8. "Thousands expected at Loxton Show". ABC News. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2012.