Keiko Sugiura of Japan competes in the women's C1-3 road cycling time trial at the Tokyo Paralympics on Aug. 31, 2021, at Fuji International Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Keiko Sugiura won the women's C1-3 road cycling time trial at the Tokyo Paralympics on Tuesday, becoming Japan's oldest-ever gold medalist at the age of 50.

       Sugiura clocked 25 minutes, 55.76 seconds at Fuji International Sppedway to triumph and rewrite the age record previously held by Takio Ushikubo, who was 46 when he won judo's 71-kilogram division at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

       She also became the first female Japanese cyclist to win gold at the Paralympics and the fourth overall.

       "I could put the plan I had before the race into practice. I wasn't nervous and managed to race while keeping myself focused," said Sugiura. "(But) my pace dipped (in the latter half of the race) and I thought I might not make it."

       Anna Beck of Sweden won silver in 26:18.03, and Paige Greco of Australia bronze in 26:37.54.

       Sugiura has paralysis on the right side of her body and memory impairment suffered after a fall in a cycling race when she was 45 years old.

       The Shizuoka Prefecture native continued cycling as part of her rehabilitation and won road time trial gold at the 2017 world championships before winning silver both in the road time trial and road race at the 2019 world championships.

       "I'm really pleased that I didn't quit," she said. "People around me supported me to continue this sport. Maybe I'll give speeches everywhere on how to win a gold medal at my age."

       Sugiura will bid for her second Paralympic gold in the road race on Friday.

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