Field Preview | Paris Paralympics

Ready to raise the stakes at the Paralympic Games are 14 field athletes. Featuring reigning Paralympic champion and world record holder Vanessa Low as well as eight additional global medallists, Australia’s field contingent will show both strength in credentials and numbers when entering Stade de France this week.

Reigning world champion Vanessa Low (ACT, Scott Reardon) stands as Australia’s best chance at a gold medal on the field, with the Long Jump star going for the coveted three-peat in the T63 class in Paris. The owner of the world record at 5.33m recorded at the last Games, Low has piled on the centimetres and now holds the unofficial world best of 5.52m, putting her firmly in contention for gold once again.

Three more long jumpers will join Low on the runway, with Paralympic bronze medallist Nicholas Hum (VIC, John Boas) ready to launch in the T20 class. Having missed the World Para Athletics Championships due to injury, Hum made his return to the National team in May, where he placed fourth at the World Para Athletics Championships with a leap of 6.78m.

Sarah Walsh (ACT, Matt Beckenham) gears up for her third Paralympic Games in the T64 class, with the blade jumper looking for her first podium finish at the Paralympic Games, after finishing fourth at her fifth world championships in Kobe, Japan. Telaya Blacksmith (Vic, Jacinta Doyle and Anula Costa) makes up the long jump contingent, doubling up after her pet event, the 400m.

All eyes will be on the country’s javelin contingent, with Australia launching a four-pronged attack on the discipline with athletes across three classes. Czech-born Michal Burian (VIC, Nick Baltas) returns to the Paralympic Games after claiming silver for his adoptive country in 2021 and will take on the heavyweights of the F44 class. Burian backed up his Tokyo efforts in Paris at the World Para Athletics Championships this year, only outdone by F64 star Sumit Antil who broke the world record to claim the title.

Former world record holder and world champion Corey Anderson (QLD, Lukas Cannon) enters Stade de France with a personal best of 58.18m. Should he come close to his lifetime best from March 2020, he will be in medal contention in the F38 class for athletes with cerebral palsy and neurological impairments. Western Australia’s Jackson Hamilton (WA, Morgan Ward) will have the pleasure of wearing the Paralympic uniform for the first time, when he hits the ground running in the F13 class for vision impaired athletes after finishing seventh overall at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships. Since then he has added almost 10m to his Australian and Oceania record.

Dayna Crees (NSW, Gordon Talbot) dons the green and gold only for the second time, but the first time at a Paralympic Games in the Javelin F34 and Shot Put F43. At the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships, Crees fell just short of the podium in the Javelin, with a national record of 16.84m for fourth place.

Two discus throwers and four shot putters round out the credentialed crew of field athletes, with Tokyo medallists Maria Strong (VIC, John Eden) and Sarah Edmiston (WA, Paul Edmiston) throwing for back-to-back medals in the F33 (seated) and F44 classes respectively.  Strong consistently delivers, with a 6.82m put that won her a medal at the World Para Athletics Championships last year, while grandmother Edmiston will look to emulate her best of 39.13m from 2022.

Wheelchair racer-turned-thrower Rosemary Little (NSW, Breanne Clement) claimed bronze last year at the World Para Athletics Championships and returns in fine form in the F32 shot put. She’ll double up for the Club Throw F32, alongside Sarah Clifton Bligh (NSW, Louise Sauvage) who will take on both events in her Paralympic debut.

Bundaberg product Samantha Schmidt (QLD, Ralph Newton) is back for round two of the Paralympics, with the Wakka Wakka and Gubbi Gubbi woman ready to take on the Discus F38. With a season’s best of 34.03 – only centimetres off her personal best of 34.26m, Schmidt has shown her ability to perform on the world stage, and will look to throw herself into medal contention next to countrywoman Ella Hose (VIC, John Eden) who will also double up for the Shot Put F37 – an event in which she holds the Australian record of 11.15m.

The athletics program at the Paralympic Games begins on August 30^th with all events broadcast live and free on Nine, 9Now and on Stan Sport.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 27/8/2024