Heo Yun-jeong wins gold at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games

South Korean para-cyclist Heo Yun-jeong secured a gold medal in the women's road cycling H1-3 event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games in Shizuoka, Japan. This victory followed a bronze medal performance in the women's individual road time trial (H4 category) the previous day.

Heo competed despite significant physical challenges, including a swollen and painful ankle sustained during a course reconnaissance earlier in the week. To manage the pain, she relied on regular doses of painkillers and bandages. Her performance was marked by resilience after a fall during a rainy descent in her previous race.

Heo, who transitioned to cycling in 2022 after a career in badminton, credited her motivation to her daughters and a cat sticker on her bicycle, which they placed there to cheer her on during muscle cramps. In the same competition, South Korean cyclist Kim Yong-gi also earned a bronze medal in the men's H1-3 road race.