“I really can’t believe it. I certainly didn’t expect that. It was such a tough race. I just treated it like a time trial and made the most of my opportunity on the first hill to get away.

“It definitely wasn’t easy. My arms are absolutely smashed. It’s been a full-on program, and I’m just so over the moon with my race today. Yeah, I just can’t believe it.”

Parker was the first Australian to compete in two Paralympic sports at the same Games since Jodi Willis-Roberts (athletics and goalball) and Kieran Modra (athletics and swimming) managed the feat at Barcelona 1992.

To win two gold medals, however, is rarefied air. The last Australian to achieve that was Eric Russell’s gold medals in class three shot put, javelin and pentathlon at the 1976 Toronto Paralympics.

In 1968 in Tel Aviv, Australian athlete Vic Renalson won athletics and weightlifting gold.

“Hard work pays off,” Parker said when told about the history she had created. “I’ve put in a lot of hard work in training and my preparation, so I’m just so stoked that it has paid off. I’ve come away with three medals in these games and two gold.”

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