Learning Curves The Theme At The Track  

There were no medals for Australia on the track, or in the field, at the Paris Games on Wednesday but there were some breakthrough moments. 

Luke Bailey had his first Paralympic final experience, after a four-year wait, in the 100m (T54) wheelchair class. 

And Mali Lovell made the transition from a world championship 100m final to a Paralympics sprint final for the first time. 

Bailey missed the 100m final in Tokyo with a 14th placing overall and earlier this week in Paris did not qualify for the 400m (12th) after the heats. He had to put it all out there in the heats and he did that with a fourth placing (14.39s). 

Coach Andrew Dawes, who mentored former Paralympic greats Louise Sauvage and Kurt Fearnley, had a simple pre-final message. 

“He told me to just go for it… well maybe there was another word in there I can’t repeat,” Bailey said. 

“I had a good start but couldn’t get the back-end speed that I’ve been after. I can’t complain though – I’m in my first Paralympic final. 

“It’s always been a dream and I started to get nervous as we waited in the call room. It’s all worth it to get out in front of this big crowd and hear the cheering engulf you as you come up the straight. 

“I’m proud of it all, over the moon to be in my first final at my second Paralympics. I can’t believe it’s the exact same time (from heat to final).” 

It was a little freaky and Bailey said it happened to him at a world championship as well. But he’s got little time to ponder the numbers games – he’s in the heats of the 800m (T54) with teammate Sam Rizzo on Thursday morning. 

Lovell prefers the 200m sprint, where she collected bronze three days ago, but likes sharpening her speed with the 100m. She was third in her heat this morning in a personal best 14.57s and only slightly slower in the 100m final (14.80s). 

“I’m proud I raced two events and made two finals at my first Games,” she said. 

There was added drama with Brazil’s Samira da Silva Brito disqualified for a false start, leaving lane four blank for the race. 

“It didn’t put me off. I just like to stay focused and that’s what I did. I was putting up with other things – a tight adductor (muscle upper leg) but my start was really good. 

“I do love the 200 but I want to keep doing the 100 as they complement each other.” 

Lovell was seventh (15.17s) in the 100m at the 2023 World Championships held in Paris, so has improved in both time and placing in her second trip to the French capital. 

Australia’s two cerebral palsy class (F32) throwers, Rosemary Little and Sarah Clifton-Bligh finished their Paris campaigns in the shot put final. 

Little – bronze medallist in this event at the 2023 World Championships – moved up through the field with every throw but in the end settled in sixth place (5.91m). 

Clifton-Bligh said she technically felt good but the distance didn’t show it. She finished 10th with her third throw being her best at 4.85m. 

“Six out of 12 (competitors) is halfway so not bad really for this time of night and this kind of dystonia (muscle contractions out of her control),” Little said. 

“I’m looking forward to a break now after a fairly lengthy build-up to Paris and just need to relax and watch a few episodes of House Hunters (reality TV show). 

“I’ve finished my fourth Games and my coach says she intends to get me to a fifth (Los Angeles 2028) but unfortunately with my condition it’s difficult to know how my body will feel in six months let alone four years. 

“But I am hoping our class can get a track race on the LA program as the T32 100 metres has been allowed in the last two world championships.” 

Clifton-Bligh said she enjoyed her maiden Paralympics but would like to get her nerves under control. 

“It’s been a big learning curve for me. I tried to not think of my nerves because I perform better when I can just blot that out and focus on what I have to do,” she said. 

Australian results Day 6 athletics 

MEN 

100m: T54 Final: Luke Bailey, 7th (14.39s) 

WOMEN 

Shot Put F32 Final: Rosemary Little 6th (5.91m); Sarah Clifton-Bligh 10th (4.85) 

100m T36 Final: Mali Lovell 5th (14.80s) 

100m T36 Heats: Ht 2 Abby Craswell 4th (15.28s), 10th overall – Did not qualify for final 

By: Margie McDonald, Paralympics Australia

Published: 5th September 2024