Paralympic champion James Turner secured Australia’s first gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships held in Delhi, winning the 400m T36 event. Turner finished the race with an impressive time of 52.18 seconds, marking his 12th global title in a remarkable career.
The runner faced stiff competition, with Russian athlete Kirill Glazyrin, competing as a neutral athlete, finishing only seven hundredths of a second behind Turner to take the silver medal. Reflecting on his performance, Turner stated, “It hurts, but it feels good. I might have gone out a little bit too hard, but other than that, I executed pretty well.”
Turner emphasized the significance of this victory. “I’ve taken back the crown. It means redeeming myself from last year and proving to my coach, all the support staff back in Canberra, my friends and family, how serious I take this and how far I’m willing to go for it,” he added.
Additional Medals for Australian Athletes
In addition to Turner’s triumph, wheelchair racer Rheed McCracken also shone, claiming his first world championship medal since 2019. McCracken finished second in the 400m T34 event with a time of 48.67 seconds. Thailand’s Chaiwat Rattana dominated the heats, ultimately winning gold and setting a world record.
“I’m really happy, I gave everything. I went faster than yesterday, so I couldn’t have done much more. I tried as hard as I could and I’m stoked to leave with a medal. We’ve still got the 100m to go,” McCracken remarked. He is set to compete in the 100m event next.
Seated javelin thrower Dayna Crees earned a bronze medal in the F34 event, achieving a best throw of 18.97 meters. This achievement adds to her previous Paralympic bronze won in Paris.
In another highlight, Chad Perris qualified fastest for the 100m T13 final, clocking in at 10.87 seconds. The championships continue to showcase the talent and determination of para-athletes on a global stage, with Australia making a strong showing in the early events.
