Luke No Fluke | Bailey Sets Eyes on 2023 World Para Athletics Championships

From a Starlight Wish of meeting Kurt Fearnley to making his Paralympic debut in Tokyo, Luke Bailey’s rise to stardom is no coincidence. The wheelchair racer is leaving no stone unturned in his quest for success ahead of the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships, rolling in career-best shape after a major move.

Upon returning from a racing tour of Switzerland in 2019, Bailey decided it was time for change. Then in his early 20’s, he packed up his life and left family and friends behind when moving to Newcastle. Becoming a full-time athlete under the tutelage of Andrew Dawes, Bailey offers a simple explanation:

“It has been a massive commitment but I wouldn’t change it for anything. I love this sport and I can see myself doing it for a while, so the sacrifice has been a good decision.

“I knew that if I wanted to be a Paralympic or world champion, I needed to do it.”

Racing in hot form with five consecutive personal bests from five starts over the weekend in Arbon, Switzerland the 25-year-old sprinter is hitting his straps after battling through illness earlier this year, with his 14.06-second performance in the 100m leaving him dreaming big.  

“Even before Tokyo, I was questioning if I was fully into this sport. It was a tough one because I didn’t have my coach there in person for my first Paralympics. I can’t complain, I didn’t make it to the final but it had been my dream for 12 years to make it to the Paralympic Games,” Bailey said.

“It has changed my mindset from making World Para Championships and Paralympic teams to it becoming time to chase for a medal. Back then I just wanted to represent Australia.”

Born with caudal regression syndrome and spina bifida, Bailey idolised Paralympic sensation and Australian icon Kurt Fearnley, making it his Wish through the Starlight Children’s Foundation to meet him – except they had already met.

“When I was young, he came and visited me in the hospital. I didn’t know who he was and my Mum didn’t know who he was. Then when I was older, I met him for a Starlight Foundation Wish because I wanted to get into wheelchair racing,” Bailey said.

“He recognised me being the kid that sat on his lap when he wheeled me around the hospital.”

Through meeting Fearnley, Bailey forged a connection to coach Andrew Dawes and seven-time Paralympian Christie Dawes – a trio of influential individuals who he credits for his blossoming career and life.

“I trained with Kurt once and was naturally loving it. I found my sport that I wanted to do and started racing straight after I met him. He’s a good person to hang out with and learn from his experiences, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for meeting Kurt, Andrew and Christie – they are my second family,” Bailey said.

“Like I’ve always said, when Andrew Dawes retires – that’s me done. You won’t find any better coach or more supportive person.”

The Paralympian who has nailed three B-qualifiers for the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris this July will race again in Notwill, Switzlerland beginning on Thursday – hoping to race smarter not harder with only one race per day.

“In Arbon, I did the 800m and then the 100m two hours after. I was knackered and didn’t want to eat too much between the races because I would be pushing hard while leaning on my stomach, it might not have ended up well,” Bailey said.

More information about the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships can be found HERE, including a full list of qualified athletes.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 24/5/2023