Dame Sarah Storey, 46, wins 19th Paralympic gold medal as fans demand she wins Sports Personality of the Year

DAME Sarah Storey clinched her 19th Paralympic gold medal in a thrilling 71km road race this morning.

The legendary British cyclist, 46, was part of the leading pack throughout the race.

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But in the final section, she and 19-year-old French rider Heidi Gaugain broke away.

The duo were locked in a fierce battle to the finish line before Storey edged in front to win gold by a matter of inches.

It is Storey's fourth successive Paralympic gold medal in the C4-5 road race.

Storey now has 30 Paralympic medals across nine games and two sports - cycling and swimming.

She first competed in the Games back in 1992 at just 14-years-old.

The record-breaking ParalympicsGB legend has since won 19 gold medals - five of which are from swimming - as well as eight silver and three bronze.

Following her incredible win, Storey told Channel 4: "I’m glad someone is keeping count [of the medals] because I wasn’t keeping total count!

"I was just thinking about winning this bike race. I knew Heidi [Gaugain] would want to attack but I was happy to take it to the line as the fastest sprinter of those four.

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Sarah Storey's Paralympic medals

1992:

• 2x Gold
• 3x Silver
• 1x Bronze

1996:

• 3x Gold
• 1x Silver
• 1x Bronze

2000:

• 2x Silver

2004:

• 2x Silver
• 1x Bronze

2008:

• 2x Gold

2012:

• 4x Gold

2016:

• 3x Gold

2020:

• 3x Gold

2024:

• 2x Gold

"She’s 19 at the end of the day so I had to reel her in – fortunately I understand French so I knew when she was going to attack!

"I knew I would still have a kick to go for the finish. It played out perfectly."

Storey won gold in the women's C5 time trial just two days ago.

And now many Brits are calling for her to be crowned Sports Personality of the Year.

One person took to X to write: "Dame Sarah Storey for #sportspersonality of the year. Just phenomenal 19 para gold medals, 9 Paralympics. Still the best female cyclist in her class. The commitment and dedication. Just brilliant. Wow. #Paralympics2024."

Another commented: "Please could we just give Dame Sarah Storey the Sports Personality of the Year award right now. She's just amazing."

While a third said: "It's a travesty if Sarah Storey doesn't win SPOTY."

Storey refused to comment when asked if she'd consider racing at the Los Angeles Paralympic Games in four years.

She said: "Who knows? I need to enjoy this first."

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