Golden Weekend: Kane & Luke Make History in Rio
VenuesWest Brand Ambassador Kane Perris and pilot Luke Zaccaria have delivered a weekend to remember at the 2025 Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio, claiming three medals and a world record.
Gold – B (Tandem) Team Sprint (World Record Time)
Silver – B (Tandem) 1km Time Trial
Silver – B (Tandem) Sprint
Both Kane and Luke train out of the SpeedDome and at WAIS. Their success as a pair is a testament to the work we do as an organisation to support high-performance sport in Western Australia. Well done to the team at SpeedDome for continuing to deliver an environment where athletes can thrive on the world's stage.
By way of context, just over a year ago Kane and Luke suffered a serious crash on the same track they raced on last week. Kane sustained broken ribs and a punctured lung, and the setback impacted their Paris 2024 campaign. Their return to Rio this year marks a powerful redemption and it's fantastic to see them enjoying some well-earnt success.
Before competition began, Kane shared some reflections on racing, resilience and what drives him and Luke as a team:
What's it like racing on a tandem bike?
“As a vision impaired person, riding on the back of a tandem bike at 75+ km/h is an incredible thrill. Growing up I wasn't allowed to ride a bike for safety concerns—tandem cycling has given me an opportunity to compete in an event that otherwise wouldn't be possible.”
How do you and Luke communicate during a race - are their cues you rely on?
"We have very specific verbal cues on the bike , Luke will call "down" to signal the transition into the seat from the out of the seat portion of the start lap. As we have developed as a team , we have relied less and less on any verbal comms particularly during racing."
What's the most important quality in a tandem pair?
“Trust is key - trust that we're both executing our race process and that the work is being done throughout the season. Luke and I have a mutual trust and competitive drive that brings it all together on race day.”
What does success look like to you?
"Success is knowing the work is done and crossing the finishing line with no regrets. My goal is to stay true to my core values and be the best version of me in every moment.
How are you feeling returning to this track - is it a chance at redemption?
“Last year Luke and I suffered a massive crash on the same track , the universe sends us these opportunities for a reason. It is time to return to the place that robbed us last year and take what was rightfully ours 18 months ago.”
How have VenuesWest and WAIS support your journey?
The VenuesWest Brand Ambassador Program and WAIS have enabled me to access world-class venues, high performance services, and financial support. It puts me in the best possible position for success come race day."
What message do you hope your story sends to young athletes with disabilities?
I hope my story empowers people with disabilities to be the CEO of their own journey. To take charge and lean into challenging moments. Wim Hof says, ‘If we don’t lean into the cold, the cold will find us.'"
