Are you ready for the World Para Athletics Championships 2023? Kicking off in Paris this year on 8 July, it’s arguably the most prestigious competition for para-athletes in the sport of athletics. Make sure you show your support for our Australian team led by Madison de Rozario!
Legends and up and comers alike will be competing for the gold this year – from icons like Tatyana McFadden to bright stars like Ntando Mahlangu. We look at what you need to know about this year’s event and who the athletes are that we’ll be keeping our eyes on.
In this article
What is the World Para Athletics Championships?
The World Para Athletics Championships is a track and field event that takes place every two years, alternating with the Paralympic Games. Unlike the Paralympics, it’s focused only on athletics events including sprints, middle-distance races, relays, high jump, long jump, shot put, discus throw, and javelin throw.
The event provides para-athletes with the opportunity to showcase their skills, set new records, and compete for medals on the global stage. It also plays a crucial role in promoting inclusivity, giving disability visibility and raising awareness about para-sports worldwide.
The athletes are classified into different categories based on their physical impairment, ensuring fair competition among participants with similar functional abilities.
Australian team
The Australian team for the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships is a strong one, with a number of athletes who are expected to be contenders for gold.
Together, the team boasts 17 medals won at the Commonwealth Games, 84 medals at the World Para Athletics Championships, 10 World Champion titles and 45 medals at the Paralympic Games.
The team is led by four-time Paralympic gold medallist Madison de Rozario and is notable for its diversity. It includes athletes from a wide range of disability groups, including wheelchair racers, amputees, and athletes with visual impairments. This diversity is a testament to the inclusive nature of para-athletics and it’s a sign that the sport is growing and becoming more accessible to people of all abilities.
Think you have a potential World Para Athlete on your hands? Read our article: Getting Kids Into Adaptive Sports – What’s Out There?
Madison de Rozario (T38 wheelchair racer)
De Rozario is a four-time Paralympic gold medallist and is the reigning world champion in the women’s 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m events. She’s expected to be a top contender in all five events at the World Championships.
Michael Roeger (T46 runner)
Roeger is a three-time Paralympic gold medallist and a world champion. He’s a veteran of the para-athletics circuit and is expected to be a medal contender in the 1500m and 5000m in Paris.
Angie Ballard (F40 shot putter)
Ballard is a five-time world champion and the reigning world record holder in the women’s shot put F40 event. She’ll be a top contender for gold in that event at the World Championships.
Evan O’Hanlon (T38 sprinter)
O’Hanlon is a five-time Paralympic gold medallist and the reigning world champion in the men’s 100m and 200m events. He’ll be a top contender for gold in both events at the World Championships.
James Turner (T36 runner)
Turner is a reigning Paralympic champion in the 800m T36. He’s also a world champion and a world record holder. Turner will be one of the favourites to win gold in Paris.
World Para Athletics Championships 2023 – Global notables
Tatyana McFadden (USA, wheelchair racing)
McFadden is a 17-time Paralympic gold medallist and considered one of the greatest athletes in para-athletics history. She’ll compete in several events in Paris, including the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m.
Ntando Mahlangu (South Africa, T61 runner)
South Africa’s Ntando Mahlangu is a rising star in para-athletics. He’s a double world champion and the reigning Paralympic champion in the 200m. He’ll be a strong contender for gold in the 100m and 200m in Paris.
Marcel Hug (Switzerland, wheelchair racing)
Hug is a 12-time Paralympic gold medallist and the reigning world champion in the men’s 800m, 1500m, and 5000m events. He’ll be a top contender in all three events at the World Championships.
Ambra Sabatini (Italy, T63 100m)
Sabatini is the current world record holder in the women’s 100m T63 event, with a time of 14.11 seconds set in the heats of the 2020 Summer Paralympics. She also won gold in the 200m T63 event at the 2020 Paralympics.
More info on disability in sport
Read more articles about sports and disability in our blog here:
We’re wishing all World Para Athletics Championship athletes, especially Madison de Rozario and her team, the very best at this year’s competition!
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