Wheelies Return to Happy Hunting Ground | Nottwil WPA Grand Prix

Australia’s wheelchair racers are ready to fly at the happy hunting ground of Nottwil, Switzerland this week at the track renowned for record-breaking and history-making performances, with the World Para Athletics Grand Prix attracting the likes of Paralympic champion Madison de Rozario.

With the Nottwil 2024 World Para Athletics Grand Prix taking place from June 6-8, followed by the Daniela Jutzeler Memorial on June 9, a contingent of seven Australians will race for all-important Paralympic qualifiers, spurred on by world-class competition as the race for Paris heats up.

Reigning Paralympic champion Madison de Rozario (Louise Sauvage) is poised to make her return to the track having already been selected for Paris 2024 in the marathon, entered in the 800m T53, 1500m and 5000m T54 events.

Racing to bolster her confidence ahead of her Paris campaign at which she looms as the defending champion over both the marathon and 800m distances, de Rozario will lean on her experience as navigates strong fields in Nottwil to ramp up her Paralympic preparations.

Fresh off his 2024 World Para Athletics campaign in Kobe, Samuel Carter (Fred Periac) arrives in Switzerland in chase of a second Paralympic qualifying performance in the 100m T54, having posted a time of 14.19 (+0.5) at January’s Summer Down Under.

With the ‘B’ qualifying standard set at 14.20, Carter will need to improve upon the 14.57 (+0.7) reading he clocked at last month’s World Para Championships, but the incentive of a third straight Paralympic Games appearance will provide the ultimate motivation. He will also contest the 400m and 800m T54 events.

Australian record holder Samuel Rizzo (Richard Colman) will continue his push towards a maiden Paralympic Games, with a host of qualifiers in the 1500m and 5000m T54, headlined by his record-breaking 2:50.84 performance over 1500m which saw him eclipse Paralympic legend Kurt Fearnley’s national record.

Also set to contest the 800m T54, the 23-year-old will pile on crucial international experience off the back of his Kobe 2024 and Paris 2023 World Championships campaigns, refining his tactical prowess as he continues to rise in the wheelchair racing world.  

Already named as co-captain for the 2024 Paralympic Games, six-time Paralympian Angela Ballard (Jamie Green) will continue her quest for a seventh Games appearance as her longevity shines on the world stage, also sharing her experience as a leader for the nation’s rising stars.

Having nailed to ‘B’ standards already over 400m and one over 800m T53, Ballard arrives in Nottwil to add the finishing touches her Paralympic lead in, alongside teammate Jake Lappin (Jamie Green, 800m / 1500m T54) and Sam McIntosh (Fred Periac, 100m T52) who will be out to add further qualifiers to the board.

The Nottwil 2024 World Para Athletics Grand Prix will take place from June 6-8, followed by the Daniela Jutzeler Memorial on June 9. More information is available HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted 4/06/2024