This afternoon’s Women’s Cycling 500m Time Trial saw NZ pick up its first gold medal of the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. Paula Tesoriero, a visually impaired cyclist, won the race with a world record time of 43.281 seconds.

The win, however, came with an element of post-race drama. After crossing the line, Tesoriero was about to get off the track so she slowed down and was looking around. While riding slowly across the corner of the course, she crashed her bike and couldn’t move. There didn’t appear to be any reason for the crash other than an error in judgment.

The medical assistants put her on the stretcher immediately and her expression was etched in pain. She couldn’t speak; her chin and hands were shaking uncontrollably. Yet at that very moment, it appeared on the screen that she won the gold medal. Looking at the screen, she burst into tears. Fellow athletes came to her side and gave their congratulations; she struggled to sit up and waved her left hand to the many spectators who were encouraging her.

Good on ya Paula, let’s hope it’s a sign of things to come!