Lizzi Jordan's world was turned upside down aged just 20 but she is now set for her Commonwealth Games debut as one of the finest para cyclists around.
Jordan was 20 when a rare form of E. coli poisoning left her permanently blind. She was put into a medically-induced coma for two months, but just six months after being discharged, she ran her first parkrun alongside her father.
After running the London Marathon in 2019, Jordan turned to cycling and clinched Paralympic gold in 2024 just four years after first getting back on a bike.
The 28-year-old is now preparing for her first appearance for Team England at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, as her rollercoaster journey continues.
She said: “I actually attended a talent ID day for cycling in 2020. I remember turning up, and they just put us through a series of power tests to see if we had potential.
“They weren't looking for an expert and they saw some potential in me so they brought me onto their para foundation program and built me up. It sounds like quite a jump to be the Paralympic champion in 2024 and those four years were crazy.
“The expectations are high but I do love the pressure. I feel like when you're pushing yourself through those really hard training sessions you know what you're fighting for and what you really love.”
Jordan races on a tandem and will team up with pilot Sylvia Misztal, with usual partner Danielle Khan unavailable for the Games.
With Khan, Jordan won won two golds at the 2025 Para-cycling Track World Championships, in the B 1km Time Trial and B Sprint but the Surrey cyclist is ready to embrace the switch to Misztal as they look to build a rock-solid bond.
She added: “There's so much communication between the two of us in races such as the match sprint because they can be quite tactical so I really need to be on board and in sync with her, really listening and following every command to make sure that we can get the most out of the race and out of each other on the bike.”
The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be Jordan’s first, as she was still developing through the system during the last event in Birmingham.
The Commonwealth Games are unique as a multi-sport event that combines able-bodied and para events, something Jordan is looking forward to experiencing.
She said: “I just want to enjoy the experience. I think the crowd will be amazing. I think it'll be a packed velodrome so I want to really soak the experience up and execute the best performance I can.
“Having the able-bodied and para events together really raises the profile of para sport and I can't see why both able-bodied and para shouldn't be held on the same occasions.
“It allows us both to have so many crowds and I think it's a really good message to portray that everybody's equal and should get equal opportunities.”
