Fin Graham

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Fin Graham

| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|MBE|size=100%}}

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Finlay Graham

| nickname = Fin

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1999|09|24}}

| birth_place =

| height =

| weight =

| currentteam =

| discipline = Track, Road

| role =

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| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}} }}

{{MedalGold|2022 Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines|{{nowrap|Scratch race C3}}}}

{{MedalGold|2022 Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines|Individual pursuit C3}}

}}

Finlay Graham (born 24 September 1999) is a British racing cyclist from Scotland who competes in para-cycling road and track events. He is classified as a C3 cyclist. He has represented Great Britain at two Paralympic Games: in Tokyo, he won silver medals in the track individual pursuit and in the road race. In Paris, he again took a silver medal in the individual pursuit, but took his first Paralympic gold in the road race. Graham is a multiple-time British and World Champion across road and track disciplines.

Early and personal life

Graham grew up in the Scottish Borders and later Strathpeffer in the Scottish Highlands.{{cite web |url=https://www.uci.org/article/meeting-the-new-wave-in-para-cycling-fin-grahams-strong-start-to-2022/1PIgmwpeE7eFCTVm7Wqqm9 |title=Meeting the new wave in para-cycling: Fin Graham’s strong start to 2022 |website=UCI |date=19 May 2022 |access-date=6 October 2024}} He attended nearby Dingwall Academy.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78d6zvd6eno |title=Paralympic gold medallist visits his old school |website=BBC |date=19 September 2024 |access-date=6 October 2024}} He has a younger brother, Rory.{{cite web |url=https://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/teen-cyclist-is-a-step-closer-to-his-dream-134718/ |title=Teen cyclist is a step closer to his dream |publisher=Ross-shire Journal |last=Sweeney |first=Val |date=23 June 2018 |access-date=6 October 2024}} Graham was born with bilateral club feet and has limited calf muscle and little-to-no movement in his ankles. In 2017, aged 18, Graham was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease lupus.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/62447862|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810131138/https://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/62447862|url-status=live |archive-date=10 August 2022 |title=Para-cyclist Fin Graham targets Road World Championships success |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |access-date=31 August 2024 }}

He started mountain biking at a young age at Glentress. He later competed in the Strathpuffer – a 24-hour mountain bike race in Strathpeffer – several times, including racing it solo at the age of 16. In 2016, having watched the paracycling at the Rio Paralympic Games on television, Graham attended a British Cycling talent identification day in Derby. He caught the attention of the coaches and was selected for the Great Britain Cycling Team development programme at the age of 17.{{cite web |url=https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/watch-raising-a-paralympic-gold-medallist-parents-of-high-360921/ |title=Highland paracyclist Fin Graham’s parents say ‘don’t focus on the disability’ while elated by Paralympic success |date=11 September 2024 |last=Sweeney |first=Val |publisher=The Inverness Courier |access-date=6 October 2024}} He has lived and trained in Manchester, the home of British Cycling, since 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/paralympic-hopeful-urges-people-take-20444806 |title=Paralympic hopeful urges people to take up Covid jab offer after getting his vaccine |publisher=Manchester Evening News |last=Statham |first=Nick |date=22 April 2021 |access-date=6 October 2024}}

Career

=2017=

In 2017, Graham competed at his first National Para-cycling Road Championships, claiming the C3 road race title and finishing second in the C3 time trial.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/bio/Fin_Graham |title=Fin Graham |website=British Cycling |access-date=6 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/161277/British-Cycling-National-Paracycling-Road-Circuit-Race-Championships#results |title=British Cycling National Paracycling Road Circuit Race Championships – Closed Circuit, Rhyl – Sunday, 23 July 2017 |website=British Cycling |date=23 July 2017 |access-date=6 October 2024}} He additionally medalled in track cycling at the Manchester Paracycling International Meeting in November, taking a silver medal in the mixed team sprint alongside Blaine Hunt and Ben Watson.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/164958/2017-Manchester-Paracycling-International |title=2017 Manchester Paracycling International |website=British Cycling |date=24 November 2017 |access-date=6 October 2024}}

=2018=

In 2018, Graham won his first national track cycling title in the C3 time trial; he also took a silver medal in the C3 individual pursuit.{{cite web |url=https://www.velouk.net/2018/01/27/brief-results-british-track-championships-day-1/ |title=Results: British Track Championships |date=27 January 2018 |website=VeloUK |access-date=6 October 2024}} At the National Road Championships in June he defended his road race title and again finished second in the time trial.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/20180611-road-Double-gold-for-Bate-and-Duggleby-at-National-Para-cycling-Road-Championships-0 |title=Double gold for Bate and Duggleby at National Para-cycling Road Championships |website=British Cycling |date=11 June 2018 |access-date=6 October 2024}} His performances until this point meant that he was selected for his first Road World Championships, in Maniago, Italy, where he finished eighth in the C3 road race and eleventh in the C3 time trial.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/186204/UCI-Para-cycling-Road-World-Championships---Maniago-(Road)-(UCI/CM)#results |title=UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships |website=British Cycling |date=2 August 2018 |access-date=6 October 2024}} In an Instagram post shared on 19 October 2018, Graham shared that he had become a full-time professional cyclist with the British Cycling programme.{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BpHhcw5gHoP/?igsh=ZHNmYTE5ZGl2amRs |title=Fin Graham on Instagram |date=19 October 2018 |access-date=6 October 2024 |website=Instagram}}{{cite web |url= https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/scotland/article/20190514-Fin-Graham-named-in-Great-Britain-Cycling-Team-for-UCI-Para-Cycling-Road-World-Cup-in-Ostend-0 |title= Fin Graham named in Great Britain Cycling Team for UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup in Ostend |website=British Cycling |date=14 May 2019 |access-date=6 October 2024}}

=2019=

Graham added two national track titles to his collection in 2019, winning golds in the C3 time trial and the C3 individual pursuit.{{cite web |url=https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/para-riders-deliver-at-british-track-cycling-championships-2019/ |title=Para Riders deliver at British Track Cycling Championships 2019 |website=Scottish Disability Sport |date=30 January 2019 |access-date=6 October 2024}} At his debut Track World Championships in March, he finished fourth in the individual pursuit, fifth in the time trial and sixth in the scratch race.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/201458/UCI-Para-cycling-Track-World-Championships---Apeldoorn#results |title=UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships – Apeldoorn |date=14 March 2019 |access-date=6 October 2024}} At the National Road Championships in July he again defended his road race title and took silver in the time trial.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/204587/British-Paracycling-Road-Race-Championships#results |title=British Paracycling Road Race Championships |date=6 July 2019 |website=British Cycling |access-date=6 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/204615/British-Paracycling-Time-Trial-Championships----Men-and-Women#results |title=British Paracycling Time Trial Championships – Men and Women |date=7 July 2019 |website=British Cycling |access-date=6 October 2024}}

=2020=

Though the cycling season was severely disrupted in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Track World Championships in Milton, Canada, in January were able to go ahead before restrictions were put in place. Graham left with similar results to 2019: fifth in the individual pursuit, sixth in the time trial, and seventh in the scratch race.{{cite web |url=https://www.uci.org/competition-details/2020/PAR/61597 |title=UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships – Milton |date=2 February 2020 |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=UCI}}

=2021=

Graham competed at the 2021 Road World Championships in Cascais, Portugal, coming away with a bronze in the road race. In the time trial he finished fifth.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsstiming.com/Resultats/UCIPara/RoadWCh/2021Cascais/doc/2021-Cascais-Wch-OfficialBook.pdf |title=2021 Para-cycling Road World Championships – Official Book of Results |website=RSS Timing |date=13 June 2021 |access-date=6 October 2024 }} On 15 July 2021 Graham was announced as a member of the ParalympicsGB cycling squad that would be competing at the postponed Tokyo Games.{{cite web |url= https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/about/article/ParalympicsGB-confirms-Para-cycling-team-Tokyo-2020 |title=ParalympicsGB confirms Para-cycling team for Tokyo 2020 |website=British Cycling |date=15 July 2021 |access-date=3 October 2024}} Here he medalled both in the velodrome and on the road, taking home silver medals in the individual pursuit and the C1-3 road race. He was beaten to gold medals by his GB teammates in both events: by Benjamin Watson on the road, and Jaco van Gass on the track.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/58340037 |title=Tokyo Paralympics: Scots Fin Graham and Aileen McGlynn take cycling silvers for Paralympics GB |date=26 August 2021 |access-date=6 October 2024 |website=BBC}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/58423632 |title=Tokyo Paralympics: Fin Graham and Sammi Kinghorn add to medals as Gordon Reid falls short |date=2 September 2021 |website=BBC |access-date=6 October 2024}} He additionally finished in a close fourth place in the C3 road time trial.{{cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org/tokyo-2020/results/cycling/men-s-time-trial-c3 |title=Results Archive – Tokyo 2020 – Cycling – Men’s Time Trial C3 |website=Paralympics |date=31 August 2021 |access-date=6 October 2024}}

=2022=

He carried this success from his debut Paralympics through into the 2022 season. At the National Track Championships in March, he won the C3 time trial, the C3 individual pursuit and the C3 scratch race.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/256228/2022-National-Track-Championships |title=2022 National Track Championships |website=British Cycling |date=3 March 2022 |access-date=6 October 2024}} He competed at two UCI Para Road World Cup events – in Ostend and Elzach – in May, winning both the C3 road race and C3 time trial at both events.{{cite web |url=https://www.uci.org/competition-hub/2022-uci-para-cycling-road-world-cup/tb3WLLgYXwxjpFFdUdJQN?tab=races-results |title=2022 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup |website=UCI |access-date=6 October 2024}} At the UEC European Road Championships later that month, Graham won silver in the time trial and gold in the road race, making him a European Champion for the first time.{{cite web |url=https://www.uec.ch/resources/2022%20Events/paracycling/res/res_Road_Race_BC_Categories.pdf |title=UEC Para-Cycling Road European Championships – Road Race Results |website=UEC |date=28 May 2022 |access-date=6 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.uec.ch/resources/2022%20Events/paracycling/res/res%20time%20trial%20btc.pdf |title=UEC Para-Cycling Road European Championships – Time Trial Results |website=UEC |date=27 May 2022 |access-date=6 October 2024}} He replicated these results later in the year at the Road World Championships in Baie-Comeau, Canada.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/scotland/article/20220815-scottish-cycling-news-Graham-and-Holl-power-their-way-to-World-titles—0 |title=Graham and Holl power their way to world titles |website=British Cycling |date=15 August 2022 |access-date=6 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/20220813-Three-rainbow-jerseys-for-Great-Britain-at-the-UCI-Para-cycling-Road-World-Championships-0 |title=Three rainbow jerseys for Great Britain at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships |website=British Cycling |date=13 August 2022 |access-date=6 October 2024}} At the National Road Championships, he did the double for the first time, winning the time trial and the road race.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/20220902-road-World-champion-Fin-Graham-claims-double-golds-at-National-Para-cycling-Championships-0 |title=World Champion Fin Graham claims double golds at National Para-cycling Championships |website=British Cycling |date=2 September 2022 |access-date=6 October 2024}} In October he competed at the Track World Championships in St-Quentin-en-Yvelines and took home four medals: three golds in the individual pursuit, omnium and scratch race, and a silver in the time trial.{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/20221023-gb-cyclingteam-news-Great-Britain-celebrates-most-successful-UCI-Para-Cycling-World-Championships-ever-0 |title=Great Britain celebrates most successful UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships ever |website=British Cycling |date=23 October 2022 |access-date=6 October 2024}}

=2023=

Success continued for Graham on the road and track throughout his 2023 season. At the National Track Championships in January, he defended all three of his titles (in the time trial, individual pursuit and scratch race).{{cite web |url=https://www.velouk.net/2023/01/29/track-results-british-track-championhip-results-para/ |title=Track results: British Track Championship Results (Para) |website=VeloUK |date=29 January 2023 |access-date=6 October 2024}} He competed at every UCI Para Cycling Road World Cup meet, in Maniago, Ostend and Huntsville. He medalled in all six of his events (one time trial and one road race per meet), winning all but the Maniago road race, in which he took silver, beaten only by GB teammate Jaco van Gass.{{cite web |url=https://www.uci.org/competition-hub/2023-uci-para-cycling-road-world-cup/g4b2hT9Us0rmjJDQcOTe0?tab=races-results |title=2023 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup |website=UCI |access-date=6 October 2024}} Van Gass would prove to be a consistent rival throughout the season. At the Track World Championships in Glasgow in August, Graham won gold in the individual pursuit. He took silvers in the time trial, scratch race and omnium, each of which was won by Van Gass.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsstiming.com/Resultats/UCIPara/RoadWCh/2023Glasgow/2023-Glasgow-TrackWChamp-OfficialBook.pdf |title=UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships – 2023 Results Book |website=RSS Timing |date=9 August 2023 |access-date=6 October 2024}} At the Road World Championships in Dumfries & Galloway a week later, Graham won the road race but was second in the time trial, which was narrowly won by Matthias Schindler with a margin of less than two seconds.{{cite web |url=https://archive.tissottiming.com/2023/pcrdwch/en-us/default/Stage/43/Results/1 |title=2023 UCI Cycling World Championships – Para-Cycling Road – Men C3 Road Race |website=archive.tissottiming.com |date=12 August 2023 |access-date=6 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://archive.tissottiming.com/2023/pcrdwch/en-us/default/Stage/15/Results/1 |title=2023 UCI Cycling World Championships – Para-Cycling Road – Men C3 Individual Time Trial |website=archive.tissottiming.com |date=10 August 2023 |access-date=6 October 2024}}

=2024=

Graham competed at the 2024 National Track Championships in February, defending his individual pursuit title and taking silver in the time trial.{{cite web |url= https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/britishtrackchampionships/article/20240224-british-track-championships-Perrett-retains-points-title-as-Bell-dominates-on-day-two-of-British-National-Track-Championships-0 |title=Perrett retains points title as Bell dominates on day two of British National Track Championships |website=British Cycling |date=24 February 2024 |access-date=6 October 2024}}{{cite web |url= https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/britishtrackchampionships/article/20240223-british-track-championships-Pete-Mitchell-crowned-comeback-king-on-first-day-of-British-National-Track-Championships-0 |title=Mitchell crowned comeback king on first day of British National Track Championships |website=British Cycling |date=23 February 2024 |access-date=6 October 2024}} The following month, at the Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, he won three medals: a silver in the individual pursuit (beaten only by teammate and close rival Jaco van Gass) and two bronzes in the time trial and the omnium.{{cite web |url=https://paraworlds2024.veloresults.com/TT/results/65f8ba6e590a4f05dbc3eada/2 |title=Men’s C3 Individual Pursuit Final Results |website=Velo Results |access-date=6 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://paraworlds2024.veloresults.com/TT/results/65fabfa578328b1a95c1a46e/2 |title=Men’s C3 1km Time Trial Final Results |website=Velo Results |access-date=6 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://api.veloresults.com/api/Races/viewPDF/parawc2024/122-Men's%20C3%20Omnium%20Results%20(1) |title=Men’s C3 Omnium Results |website=Velo Results |access-date=6 October 2024}} On 22 July 2024 it was announced that Graham would be competing at the Paris Paralympic Games, his second Paralympics.{{cite web |url= https://paralympics.org.uk/articles/paralympicsgb-cycling-squad-announced-for-paris-2024-paralym |title=ParalympicsGB cycling squad announced for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games |website=ParalympicsGB |date=22 July 2024 |access-date=3 October 2024}} He competed in one event in the velodrome, the C3 individual pursuit, and came away with a silver medal – GB teammate Van Gass won gold.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/cewlzzw2d9wo |title=Van Gass wins cyclings gold days after car accident |website=BBC |date=30 August 2024 |access-date=6 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024-paralympics/results/para-cycling-track/men-s-c3-3000m-individual-pursuit/fnl--------- |title=Para Cycling Track: Men’s C3 3000m Individual Pursuit Finals Results |website=Olympics |date=30 August 2024 |access-date=6 October 2024}} On the road, Graham rode in both the C1-3 road race and the C3 time trial. In the time trial he finished sixth.{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024-paralympics/results/para-cycling-road/men-s-c3-individual-time-trial/fnl-000100-- |title=Para Cycling Road: Men’s C3 Individual Time Trial Results |website=Olympics |date=4 September 2024 |access-date=6 October 2024}} Three days later, in the road race, he claimed his first Paralympic gold, beating Frenchman Thomas Peyroton-Dartet in a sprint to the finish line.{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024-paralympics/results/para-cycling-road/men-s-c1-3-road-race/fnl-000100-- |title=Para Cycling Road: Men’s C1-3 Road Race Results |website=Olympics |date=7 September 2024 |access-date=6 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/clylegjgjyno |title=Graham wins road race to take GB’s 43rd gold |website=BBC |date=7 September 2024 |access-date=6 October 2024}} At the Road World Championships in Zurich later that month, Graham successfully defended his C3 world road race title and again won silver in the C3 time trial, bested only by Florian Bouziani.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/cwyv6dnj29lo |title=GB’s Ferguson wins junior road race & Graham C3 title |website=BBC |date=26 September 2024 |last=Warwick |first=Matt |access-date=6 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/cwyl7q2ylyno |title=GB’s Ferguson, Barrow and Brown win world titles |website=BBC |date=24 September 2024 |access-date=6 October 2024}}

Graham was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2025 New Year Honours for services to cycling.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cg4zpngy2k7o |title=Southgate knighted in New Year Honours - full list |website=BBC |date=30 December 2024 |access-date=31 December 2024}}

Major results

;2017

:National Para-cycling Road Championships

::1st 20px C3 Road Race

::2nd 15px C3 Time Trial

;2018

:National Para-cycling Track Championships

::1st 20px C3 Time Trial

::2nd 15px C3 Individual Pursuit

:National Para-cycling Road Championships

::1st 20px C3 Road Race

::2nd 15px C3 Time Trial

;2019

:National Para-cycling Track Championships

::1st 20px C3 Time Trial

::1st 20px C3 Individual Pursuit

:National Para-cycling Road Championships

::1st 20px C3 Road Race

::2nd 15px C3 Time Trial

;2021

:Paralympic Games

::2nd 15px C3 Individual Pursuit

::2nd 15px C1-3 Road Race

:UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships

::3rd 15 px C3 Road Race

;2022

:UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships

::1st 20px C3 Individual Pursuit

::1st 20px C3 Omnium

::1st 20px C3 Scratch Race

::2nd 15px C3 Time Trial

:UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships

::1st 20px C3 Road Race

::2nd 15px C3 Time Trial

:UEC European Para-Cycling Road Championships

::1st 20px C3 Road Race

::2nd 15px C3 Time Trial

:National Para-cycling Track Championships

::1st 20px C3 Time Trial

::1st 20px C3 Individual Pursuit

::1st 20px C3 Scratch Race

:National Para-cycling Road Championships

::1st 20px C3 Road Race

::1st 20px C3 Time Trial

;2023

:UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships

::1st 20px C3 Individual Pursuit

::2nd 15px C3 Scratch Race

::2nd 15px C3 Time Trial

::2nd 15px C3 Omnium

:UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships

::1st 20px C3 Road Race

::2nd 15px C3 Time Trial

:National Para-cycling Track Championships

::1st 20px C3 Time Trial

::1st 20px C3 Individual Pursuit

::1st 20px C3 Scratch Race

:National Para-cycling Road Championships

::1st 20px C3 Road Race

;2024

:Paralympic Games

::1st 15px C1-3 Road Race

:: 2nd 15px C3 Individual Pursuit

:UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships

::1st 20px C3 Road Race

::2nd 15px C3 Time Trial

:UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships

::2nd 15px C3 Individual Pursuit

::3rd 15px C3 Time Trial

::3rd 15px C3 Omnium

:National Para-cycling Track Championships

::1st 20px C3 Individual Pursuit

::2nd 15px C3 Time Trial

;2025

:National Para-cycling Track Championships

:: 1st 20px C3 Individual Pursuit

References

External links

[https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/bio/Fin_Graham Fin Graham] at British Cycling
{{BPA|fin-graham|Fin Graham}}
{{IPC|finlay-graham|Finlay Graham}}

Category:1999 births

Category:Living people

Category:Scottish male cyclists

Category:British male cyclists

Category:Paralympic cyclists for Great Britain

Category:People with lupus

Category:Cyclists at the 2020 Summer Paralympics

Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Paralympics

Category:Cyclists at the 2024 Summer Paralympics

Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Paralympics

Category:21st-century British sportsmen

Category:Paralympic gold medalists for Great Britain