World record hand-cycle speed broken by B. Braun ambassador

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World record hand-cycle speed broken by B. Braun ambassador

Paralympian gold medallist Karen Darke MBE has broken the female hand-cycle land speed record after travelling at 46.54mph over a 5-mile course at the World Human Powered Speed Challenge in the US.

The 47-year-old, who has been an ambassador at B. Braun Medical Ltd in Sheffield since 2010, made history by beating the previous female world record by 22mph.

As part of the University of Liverpool team, Karen rode a hand-pedal powered bike, called a velocipede, designed and constructed by engineering students from the university as part of its ARION 4 project.

Halifax-born Karen said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have smashed the world record and there is just no way I could have done it without the students who designed the velocipede.

“The whole project has been a huge challenge for everyone involved but it just goes to show that anything is possible when you put your mind to it.”

Karen was paralysed from the chest down after a rock-climbing accident on the Aberdeen Sea Cliffs when she was just 21-years-old. She joined the British Para-Cycling Team in 2010, won a silver medal in the London 2012 Paralympics and then won a gold medal for Great Britain in hand cycling at 2016's Rio Paralympics.

Karen’s sporting journey has been supported by B. Braun Medical who recently sponsored her Quest 79 Campaign to raise £79,000 for the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA).

Group Chairman and Chief Executive at B. Braun, Hans Hux, said: “Karen is a real inspiration and this latest feat adds to her already impressive list of achievements. Her determination and drive to achieve the impossible is unwavering and we couldn’t be prouder to be supporting her on her journey.”

Karen’s teammate, Ken Talbot, also broke the male world record speed reaching 51.86mph over an alternative five-mile course.

„(Picture credit ULV Team)“