Paige Greco and Emily Petricola’s golden Tokyo glow

Image Courtesy of Paralympics

Australia opened the 2020 Paralympic Games in extraordinary style with gold medals and world records to Paige Greco (SA) and Emily Petricola (VIC) on the opening day of the Track competition at Izu Velodrome on Wednesday.

Greco, 24, set a new world record of 3:52.283 in Women’s C1-3 3000m Individual Pursuit (IP) qualifying before smashing her new mark again in the final.

Greco’s time in the final of 3:50.815 was too good for China's Xiaomei Wang to claim the gold.

“I’m just so happy. I can’t believe that we did it,” Greco said.

“I still can’t believe it.

“I can’t thank the team at AusCycling and my coach (enough), their support is just amazing, as well as my family and friends – I wouldn’t be here without them.”

Emily Petricola, 41, took gold in the Women's C4 3000m IP over United States’ Shawn Morelli after overtaking the American at the 2250m mark.

Petricola enjoyed a flawless day at Izu Velodrome, setting a new world record time of 3:38.061 in qualifying.

The Paralympic debutant was overcome with emotion after the final as her newly minted status as a Paralympic gold medallist set in.

“I’m so surprised that just happened … I didn’t know where she was, I had no idea – it's shocking,” Petricola said.

“Words can’t describe how grateful I am to Matt Ryan and Shane Kelly for what they did for me early on in the piece. They’ve changed my life and they saved my life; I was in such a dark place when Matt suggested this.

“I honestly just am so shocked.”

Petricola’s C4 teammate Meg Lemon (SA) put in two superb rides to finish fourth in the Women’s C4 3000m IP.

Lemon, 31, who qualified in fourth spot to earn a place in the bronze medal final, narrowly missed out on a medal in her match-up against Canadian Keely Shaw.