Quick Facts
Biography
Paula Margaret Tesoriero, MNZM (born 29 August 1975 in Wellington, New Zealand) is a New Zealand paralympics racing cyclist, most notable for her performance at the 2008 Summer Paralympics; her world record-breaking time in the women's 500m time trial secured New Zealand's first gold medal at that games, and she later went on to win bronze in both the individual pursuit, and the women's individual road time trial. She broke the world record earlier in the year and also won two silver medals at the 2006 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. Tesoriero uses an artificial left leg and is missing an ankle on her right leg. When she competes, she uses a carbon limb on her left leg and is classified as a LC3 athlete. Tesoriero also competes in the 25 km bicycle racing road race.
She was appointed to be the NZ Disability Rights Commissioner in June 2017 for a three year term until July 2020.