Local Cyclist Earns Fifth Place Tokyo 2020 Finish
TOKYO, Japan (September 08, 2021) – Among Team USA athletes returning to the country this week will be Fremont, IN resident, Tom Davis. Davis was a member of the 14-person 2020 U.S. Paralympic Cycling Team and garnered fifth-place finishes in the road time trial and road race competitions at Fuji International Speedway just outside of Tokyo.
Davis’s fifth-place road time trial improves upon his sixth-place finish at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. Participating in his second Paralympic Games comes after 5 years of intense training and perseverance with Tokyo 2020 being delayed one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“From the world-class competition to the mountainous courses, to the weather, the races on Fuji Speedway were the most challenging I have ever competed in. I am beyond excited with my performances and results,” said Davis. “It was such an honor to be able to represent my country in these Paralympic Games. With the exceptional broadcast coverage, I hope I was part of inspiring future para-athletes to chase their dreams and, one day, compete in their Paralympic Games.”
Davis is a combat-wounded veteran with a left leg amputation, originally from Ohio. In 2012, Davis connected with Turnstone in Fort Wayne to train with a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site as he worked towards his competition and performance goals.
Team USA finished the road cycling competition with seven medals, including three golds, five years after taking home three golds and 13 medals in Rio. Two of those golds came from Oksana Masters, who has now won 10 career Paralympic medals and is only the fourth U.S. woman to have won gold at both the summer and winter Paralympics. Paralympic rookie Aaron Keith won silver in the men’s C1 time trial, three-time Paralympian Alicia Dana won bronze in the women’s H1-4 road race, two-time Paralympian Jill Walsh won bronze in the women’s T1-2 road race, and the U.S. won bronze in the mixed H1-5 team relay with the trio of Freddie de Los Santos, Ryan Pinney and Dana.