Para-cyclist Tristen Chernove is preparing to compete at the upcoming Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. It will be the second Paralympics for the Powell River born and raised athlete, who now lives in Cranbrook.
Chernove had expected to lead the Canadian para-cycling team in Tokyo last summer at the Paralympic Games, which were postponed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Chernove was one of the top medal winners for Canada, earning gold in the road cycling time trial, silver in the 3,000-metre individual pursuit and bronze in the 1,000-metre indoor time trial.
He took up cycling to offset the effects of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a rare hereditary disorder that affects the nervous system and produces symptoms similar to muscular dystrophy. He was diagnosed in 2009.
Chernove will compete in the 3,000 metre individual pursuit between 10 am and 4:40 pm Japan Standard Time (JST) on Thursday, August 26; the 4,000 time trial between 10 am and 4:40 pm JST on Friday, August 27; the road time trial between 8 am and 5:15 pm JST on Tuesday, August 31; and the road race between 9:30 am and 4:45 pm JST on Thursday, September 2.
There are no set times for the events, only within the parameters above as other scheduled events conclude. Japan Standard Time is 16 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time.
Chernove currently races at the C2 level, but may be assigned to C1 when undergoing testing in Tokyo prior to the games, depending on the amount of CMT degeneration. Participating cyclists are subdivided into classes according to the severity of the impairment.
The opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games takes place on August 24. September 5 marks the closing ceremony date.
To view the CBC Sports broadcast schedule and streaming, go to cbc.ca/sports/paralympics/watch-online.
