Aussies planning for the World Para Athletics Championships

By Jaryd Clifford

The world of para-athletics remains in a state of extraordinary evolution. Most notably, the last decade has seen the sport flourish, capturing the world’s attention with its unique and spectacular athleticism. It has also gone further, highlighting the incredible scope of possibility, while also dismissing any archaic perceptions of disability as comical. It has played a crucial role in the global shift towards the eradication of negative stigma associated with people with a disability. The symbolism of the sport seems to transcend even itself.

This November (7-15), the meteoric rise will continue. The best athletes from around the globe will battle for gold at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. With all eyes focused on the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, the stakes are higher than ever. Who will return? Who will breakthrough? And, what will the storyline be at #Dubai2019? All these questions will be answered in a matter of months.

Ever since the championships became a biennial event in 2011, there has rarely been such a long gap between majors. The last time many athletes had the opportunity to compete against their rivals in the flesh was over two years ago at the previous world championships in London. With an unreliable ranking system – due to some results flying under the radar, often recorded at non-sanctioned meets – it is hard to know where one stands heading into Dubai. However, this makes it all the more exciting. No one can take anything for granted.

Someone that knows this all too well is reigning T38 (Cerebral Palsy) 1500m world champion and Paralympic Games silver medallist, Deon Kenzie. An emphatic victory in London – a race where he put the entire field to the sword in the final lap – led to high hopes that Paralympic gold in Tokyo might be somewhat of a procession. However, as is the case with para-athletics, someone came out of nowhere to throw a spanner in the works. That person is Nate Reich from Canada, and without any warning, he shattered the previous world record last year. Having never had the opportunity to race one another, this new rivalry will be born in Dubai. Rather than dwelling on the rapid rise of his new nemesis, Kenzie is determined to take it all in his stride. He is more motivated than ever before, and he knows that things like this are all part of the peculiar beauty of para-athletics.

“The para movement is growing, which is a wonderful thing. So, it certainly doesn’t come as a shock when tougher competitors come along,” he said. “I thrive on competition, and it has only served to make me better. I know that my competition may have more talent or natural ability than me, but I know they certainly don’t train as hard as me.”

One of the legends of Australian para-athletics is five-time Paralympic champion, Evan O’Hanlon (T38, Cerebral Palsy). Determined to make amends for his silver medal at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016, he used the 2017 IPC World Championships to take his first step toward Tokyo redemption.

“I didn’t think I had it in me to come back from my injury and silver in Rio,” he said. “I am so proud of that race because it was the one time in my career where I didn’t actually believe I was going to win… It took everything I had not to give up.”

Now, there is only one crucial step left: Dubai 2019. Its importance must not be understated. His hopes in Tokyo, and potentially the story of his entire career may rest with his performance this November.

“Dubai is important for me leading into Tokyo because Iryna (coach) and I will be able to see where I am at and what I am missing with less than one year to go,” he said. “When I started athletics, I remember wanting to do something that would make an impression, something that people would remember. Despite my success, I still don’t feel like I’ve achieved that yet.”

Another household name on the Australian team is Madison de Rozario, who won the T54 (Wheelchair) 5000m in an incredible last lap push to hold off the historically dominant American team. It remains one of her most memorable moments, but when she lines up in Dubai, it will be with a clean slate.

“Winning the 5k in 2017 was all kinds of emotions. Athletics is usually a strangely lonely sport, and you only share the highs and lows with a handful of people. Coming out of the mixed zone and having all of the team there really made that entire race,” she said. “Defending a title means absolutely nothing. Every race stands in isolation, and I don’t think there’s too much value in bringing previous success or failure to the start line.”

With so much on the line leading into the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, #Dubai2019 promises to be an enthralling spectacle. Australia brought home 28 medals from London 2017, enough to place fifth on the medal tally. How many will there be in 2019?

#Dubai2019 is not to be missed!

2017 World Champions

• James Turner (T36, Cerebral Palsy) 200M, 400M & 800M
• Isis Holt (T35, Cerebral Palsy) 100M & 200M
• Madison de Rozario (T54, Wheelchair) 5000M
• Cameron Crombie (F38, Cerebral Palsy) SHOT PUT
• Deon Kenzie (T38, Cerebral Palsy) 1500M
• Evan O’Hanlon (T38, Cerebral Palsy) 100M
• Jayden Sawyer (F38, Cerebral Palsy) JAVELIN
• Scott Reardon (T42, Above Knee Amputee) 100M

This article is one of four that Victorian athlete Jarryd Clifford is writing for Athletics Australia