Kadeena Cox is the big name on the opening day of the track-cycling programme and she has every chance of opening the Great Britain medal account – and, indeed, winning the first gold of the Games – at the velodrome. But the buildup to her third Paralympics has been far from smooth.
The 33-year-old, who ripped up the record book by winning gold in Rio on the athletics track and in the velodrome, tore a calf muscle last winter and then sustained an achilles injury. She recovered to successfully defend her C4 500m time trial title at the Para Cycling Track World Championships in March but picked up another calf tear in training six weeks ago.
