Park Hyun-mi, who lost her sight in a bicycle accident 10 years ago, wins cycling gold at the Asian Para Games

[Financial News] Park Hyun-mi (Gyeonggi-do Para Cycling Federation) won gold in the women's 4,000-meter individual pursuit (Sport Class B) in track cycling at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games.
Park Hyun-mi and her pilot, Kim Chae-yeon, set a Games record of 5:01.936 in the final at the competition, held on the 19th at the Izu Velodrome in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Park won gold, beating the Kazakh duo of Anastasia Karaus. In visually impaired cycling, competitors race on tandem bicycles. The sighted pilot, Kim, sits in front, steering and controlling the pace, while visually impaired Park sits behind, pedaling together with the pilot and adding power.
Because this is an event in which the athletes' coordination determines the outcome, medals are awarded to both athletes. Park lost her sight in an accident in which she was pinned under a bicycle 10 years ago. She climbed back onto the bicycle that had injured her and stood atop the podium at an international competition.
Immediately after the race, Park called it “the best moment of my life” and said, “I became disabled in an accident in which I was pinned under a bicycle 10 years ago. For me, today is truly a day of achievement.” She later shared her feelings, saying, “I am immeasurably happy just to be able to ride a bicycle again and compete.” Park, a mother of twin boys, delivered her remarks in a voice filled with emotion.
Her coordination with pilot Kim Chae-yeon was also perfect. The two athletes, dubbed “the 2004-born Kim Chae-yeon carrying 2004 university entrant Park Hyun-mi on the back,” have already proven their remarkable teamwork by breaking Korean and Asian records.
Park Hyun-mi's golden ride continues. “As a track specialist, my next goal is gold in the 1,000-meter time trial,” she said, adding, “The upcoming road cycling event will also be a major challenge for me.”
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