Join AUS Squad
Back To News
Australia will depart the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris with three world titles, 14 medals and a seemingly bright future for a crop of new talent.
World Champions James Turner and Maria Strong led the way for the 38-strong team, of which 12 athletes claimed medals. Australia finished in 18th place of the 84 competing nations.
Turner defended his 100m T36 and 400m T36 world titles from Dubai 2019, taking his career tally at the Championships to eight gold medals.
🇦🇺James Turner retains his world title in the 400m T36!
— #ParaAthletics (@ParaAthletics) July 11, 2023
🥈William Stedman 🇳🇿
🥉Alexis Chavez 🇦🇷
📊Schedule & Result: https://t.co/iDFcKODdZE#PARIS23 @AUSParalympics @AthsAust @Paralympics @wpaparis23 pic.twitter.com/a2WCLKaQYg
Strong’s Day 1 win in the inaugural 100m T72 set the tone for Australia. Strong added a silver medal in the Shot Put F33.
The 11 minor medals included the storylines of Vanessa Low’s return from pregnancy to win bronze in the Long Jump T63 and Michael Roeger’s bittersweet silver upon his return to the track . Debutants Mali Lovell and Reece Langdon struck silver in the 200m T36 and 1500m T38, respectively.
Australia’s youngest team member, 17-year-old Angus Hincksman won bronze in the 1500m T38.
“If everything was going to go right, that’s the outcome I wanted,” Hincksman said. “I executed my plan, I executed my race and I had good training leading into it. All I can do is improve, one step at a time and meet some new people along the way.”
The event was a chance to learn for Hincksman’s fellow young team member Abby Craswell.
“It’s definitely been a new experience and an opportunity,” Craswell said. “It’s been quite different and overwhelming, especially the first couple of weeks, but now I have gotten into the jist of things a bit more.
“It leaves us with so much hope. There’s still over a year to go and prepare for the Paralympics next year which is very exciting.”
Related: Day 1 Wrap – ‘Flying’ Strong Strikes Gold, De Rozario Set For Track Return
Related: Day 2 Wrap – ‘Gutsy Clifford Wins Silver, Turner Breezes Into 400m Final’
Related: Day 3 Wrap – Aussie Speedsters Flex At World Athletics Championships
Related: Day 4 Wrap – Burian Idolised Zelezny, Now Seeks Javelin Gold For Australia
Athletics Australia General Manager – High Performance Andrew Faichney said the Team’s results were encouraging heading into next year’s World Para Athletics Championships and on to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
“It’s been two years since Australia’s Para-athletes had the opportunity to compete on the world stage and a long four years since their last stand alone event,” Faichney said. “This crop of athletes came here to lay down their preparations, but with a lack of competition opportunities prior to these championships, it became very hard to assess where we stood amongst our competing nations.
“When I reflect on the results of our team at this Championships, I can see that there is much to look forward to. I’m extremely proud of what our two world champions and medallists achieved, but I am particularly impressed by our nine debutants who showed so much promise throughout the nine days of competition.
“The future is looking bright for our Para-athletes and I look forward to seeing what they can achieve between now and the Australian domestic season ahead of our return to Paris again for the pinnacle event next August.”
Related: Day 5 Wrap – ‘I Know I Have It In Me’: Sprint Duo Ripe For 200 Final
Related: Day 6 Wrap – Big Guns Low And Turner Set To Fire on Super Saturday
Related: Day 7 Wrap – Roeger Aims To Set Record Straight As Australia Climbs Medal Tally
Related: Day 8 Wrap – Silver Double Has Australia Prepped For Big Final Day
Australian medals at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships:
Gold – James Turner (100m T36, 400m T36), Maria Strong (100m T72)
Silver – Guy Henly (Discus F38), Michal Burian (Javelin F64), Mali Lovell (200m T36), Rhiannon Clarke (400m T38), Reece Langdon (1500m T38), Michael Roeger (1500m T46), Jaryd Clifford (5000m T13), Maria Strong (Shot Put F33)
Bronze – Vanessa Low (Long Jump T63), Rosemary Little (Shot Put F32), Angus Hincksman (1500m T38)
By: Athletics Australia and David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 18 July 2023
