Ben Watson (cyclist)

Benjamin Watson
MBE
Personal information
Birth nameBenjamin Michael Watson
NationalityBritish
Born (1989-06-11) 11 June 1989
Stockport, Greater Manchester, England
Home townManchester, England
Sport
Country Great Britain
SportCycling
ClubPara-T
Coached byAndrew Pink
Medal record
Men's Para-cycling
Representing  Great Britain
Paralympic Games
2020 Tokyo Time trial C3
2020 Tokyo Road race C1–3
Road World Championships
2024 Zurich Road race C3
2019 Emmen Road time trial C3
2018 Maniago Road time trial C3
2023 Glasgow Road race C3
Track World Championships
2018 Rio de Janeiro Scratch C3[1]

Benjamin Michael Watson (born 11 June 1989) is a British para cyclist competing in road, time trial and track cycling events in the C3 category.[2]

Cycling career

Watson has been part of the Great Britain Cycling Team since early 2017.[2]

In 2018 Watson finished second at the UCI World Para-cycling Track Championships in Rio de Janeiro.[3] In the World Road Championships C3 individual time trial he has won bronze both in the 2018 and 2019.[4][5] Watson won the C3 road race in Yorkshire 2019, which was the first time a para-cycling race took place alongside the UCI Road World Championships.[6]

In 2021 Watson became Paralympic double Champion when he won the Gold Medal in the C3 Men's Time Trial, and the men's C1-3 road race at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

At the 2022 world championships, Watson won the bronze medal in the time trial, behind gold medal winner Finlay Graham.[7]

Watson was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to cycling.[8][9]

At the 2023 world championships, Watson won the bronze medal in the C3 road race.[10]

Watson was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[11] He finished 5th in the C1-3 road race and 4th in the time trial.[12]

References

  1. ^ "UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships - Rio de Janeiro (Track)". UCI.ch.
  2. ^ a b "Ben Watson Looks to Reach True Potential Ahead of Tokyo Paralympics". britishcycling.org.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Scratch - Rio de Janeiro - 25 Mar 2018". dataride.uci.ch. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  4. ^ "UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships - Maniago (Road)". Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Individual Time Trial - Emmen". dataride.uci.ch. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Points: Benjamin Watson". britishcycling.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Para-cycling Road World Cup: Fin Graham wins time trial gold in Germany". BBC Sport. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  8. ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N26.
  9. ^ "New Year Honours 2022: Jason Kenny receives a knighthood and Laura Kenny made a dame". BBC Sport. 31 December 2021.
  10. ^ "FINLAY GRAHAM WINS MEN'S C3 ROAD RACE AT PARA-CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AS GREAT BRITAIN MEDAL TALLY GROWS". www.eurosport.com. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  11. ^ "ParalympicsGB cycling squad announced for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games". British Cycling. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Watson taking positives away from Paris 2024 Paralympics". Derbyshire Live. 7 September 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 October 2024.