Burian Throws Season Best For Javelin Bronze

It was back-to-back Paralympic Games medals for javelin thrower Michal Burian in the Stade de France in Paris on Monday – just the colour changed from Tokyo three years ago. 

Burian collected Australia’s fifth medal in athletics – a bronze in the F64 javelin with a season-best throw (64.89m) in the second round. He held the silver medal position until the fifth round before Dulan Kodithuwakku (Sri Lanka) snatched second place (67.03m). 

It meant Burian and Kodithuwakku traded podium places from the Tokyo Games. 

“Look, it’s a medal and I would have liked a better result obviously because my preparation was good leading up to Paris. So I’m disappointed – I just didn’t execute,” Burian said. 

“I felt technically on the run-up I just couldn’t put it all together. The first couple of throws were pretty good but then I think I was just trying too hard.” 

Someone else who gave it their all was 16-year-old runner Telaya Blacksmith in the 400m T20 heats. The teenager burst out of the blocks and managed to stay near the leaders for fifth in her heat in a personal best 57.96s. 

With her parents and supporters giving her a hug from the bottom row of the stands, Blacksmith found out she had qualified for a Paralympic final at her first Games. 

“I was very nervous, very excited. It was such an amazing experience – I’m so happy I’m here,” she said. 

“The stadium was so big and loud. I don’t know how I did it because I’m sure I used up all my adrenalin. And I thought I hadn’t made it and then they told me I had. 

“At such a young age, I now feel like I can achieve anything if I work hard – it’s not impossible.” 

For wheelchair racer Sam Rizzo in the 1500m T54 heats there was some heartache. He finished ninth overall from 16 competitors but missed the final by one spot. 

Rheed McCracken was on a wonderful run of consecutive 100m T34 silver medals from the 2012 London, 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo podiums. 

But Paris put a halt to that trend despite the fact his 15.31s for fourth in today’s final was a season-best time. 

“I just missed the start a bit and left too much ground to make up. I thought I’d done enough once it started to open up and I got into a driving phase. 

“I was thinking ‘I can probably sneak in for third if I make up a bit more ground’, but that’s the way it goes. I’ll get asked the same question of how I feel because for the last three Paralympics I’ve finished behind Walid (Ktila, Tunisia) for silver. 

“I don’t really know how I feel … disappointed yes, but I made it to a Paralympic final again and yeah, I didn’t win a medal but I’m still pretty happy.” 

McCracken still has the 800m heats on Friday. 

Madison de Rozario lines up for her last track event for the 2024 Games – the 1500m T54 Final – on Tuesday after a comfortable heat (3min:20.09s) putting her as the second fastest qualifier behind Susannah Scaroni (USA). 

Scaroni took Silver and de Rozario the Bronze in the 5000m Final on Saturday at the Stade de France. 

“It’s not my pet event (1500m) but it felt really good,” de Rozario said, explaining why it’s better to do the longer distance first, then the 3.3-lap race before Sunday’s Marathon. 

“There is a benefit in having the 5K as far away from the marathon as possible because it’s a fatiguing event. Having said that, starting with the 5K on Day 1 was pretty brutal. 

“I didn’t race the 800m yesterday even though people were asking me why (as she is defending champion). With the parts in my career as we go on, I really want to leave them on my terms. 

“At that time in Tokyo, we (with coach Louise Sauvage) had the world record, we were reigning world champion and we had the Paralympic gold. So we decided to put a bow on it and leave it there as there was nothing more we could have done to make it better. 

“I thought watching the 800m yesterday would be difficult but it was really peaceful, although I’m now the one who’s held the Paralympic record for the shortest time – three years and not four.” 

The 2020 Tokyo Games were staged in 2021 after being postponed for 12 months due to COVID. 

Australian results Day 4  

MEN 

100m T34 Final: Rheed McCracken 4th (15.31s) 

2500m T54: Heat 1, 9th Sam Rizzo (3min:02.92s). Did not qualify for final 

Javelin T64 Final: Michal Burian, Bronze (64.89m) 

WOMEN 

1500m T54: Heat 1, 2nd Madison de Rozario (3min: 20.09s) Qualified for final 

400m T20: Heat 2, 5th Telaya Blacksmith (57.96s) Qualified for final