PARALYMPIC silver medallist Pete Mitchell is to enjoy a family celebration next weekend following his success at the Rio games.

Pete, 26, from Lostock Gralam, took silver as the pilot in the 1k tandem time trial, riding with Neil Fachie from Altrincham, who is visually impaired.

Pete and Neil, 32, are the world champions, and had not been beaten until Rio since teaming up after the 2012 Paralympics in London.

They were the hot favourites for the gold medal, but lost out to their great rivals from Holland, being beaten in the four-lap event by just four tenths of a second.

Pete and Neil beat their personal best by half a second, but the Dutch pair went almost two seconds faster than their best time.

“It was a bit of a shock not to win, because we had not been beaten since we started riding together, and immediately after the race I was disappointed,” said Pete.

“However our preparation was really good and our ride was perfect,” said Pete.

“We rode as fast as we could, and were ahead after two laps, but the Dutch pair pulled out an incredible ride, and their time was 1.1 seconds faster than the winning time in London.”

Nine members of Pete’s family made the trip out to Rio to cheer him on in the velodrome.

“The track cycling was sold out every day, and the noise from the crowds was really loud,” he said.

“I would like to thank my family for their support, especially my wife Naomi, who sees every side of being an athlete, the good times and the bad, and we are having a family celebration next weekend at Knutsford.”

Pete and Neil took gold in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Para-Cycling Track World Championships, and the Rio games was Pete’s first Paralympics.

Pete’s wife Naomi is a teacher at Winnington Park Primary School, and schools which would like him to come in and show his medal and talk about the Rio games can contact him through his coaching business – blacklinecoaching.com.

Pete also thanked the National Lottery for its support.