Meg Lemon is ‘prepared for the enormity’ of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, readier than ever to show the world what she can do both on and off the bike.

Returning to the Paralympics for the second time in her career, she carries a completely different mindset into Paris than her previous outing in Tokyo 2020.

“When I found out I kind of had to hold it all together. A lot of emotions came out because it meant so much to me.

“With Tokyo I didn’t really understand what the Games were, and going there I realised how big the Games were,” she said.

Through the intense mist of excitement, Meg was able to secure a Tokyo 2020 bronze medal in the women’s C4 road time trial. While she remains committed to following up her previous success with another medal in Paris, Meg is delighted with the opportunity to be selected at all.

“It was a fair bit of a surprise hearing that I’d been selected to go, I had kind of prepared myself for potentially missing out on these Games.

“I know there is a lot of people that do miss out, that sits with me a fair bit.

“Someone always has to miss out so I’m just going to be grateful for being there and enjoy the experience,” she said.

Outside of the Paralympics, Meg holds an impressive list of world championship results; with six bronzes and a silver on road, and four bronzes and two silvers on track.

But there is far more to Meg’s life than getting medals and going fast. Off the bike, she’s a sports dietitian with a Nutrition and Dietetics degree from Flinders University.

The South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) has been able to provide Meg with the support she needs in balancing life outside of being a world-class athlete.

“I’ve been really fortunate to have SASI support me both on and off the bike.

“I think I found after Tokyo that it was really important to have a bit more balance in my life and work towards my career goals. Cycling at this level isn’t forever.

The support network that SASI provides has been able to support Meg’s ambitions for life after cycling, but also on her journey as a developing athlete.

“It has been a bit of a hard balance at times but SASI have been so supportive. I’ve got some great mentors.”