º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ athletes sparkle at Para Athletics World Championships

Hollie Arnold in action on campus at a previous event. Image provided by Still Sport Photography.

Hollie Arnold in action on campus at a previous event. Image provided by Still Sport Photography.

Athletes linked to º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ performed incredibly well at the recent Para Athletics World Championships in Paris, bringing home a combined nine medals.

Alumnus Jonathan Broom-Edwards MBE added to his ever-growing personal medal tally by taking a shared gold in Men’s T64 High Jump. The 35-year-old shared the lead podium place with polish rival Maciej Lepiato after both athletes failed to clear 2.07m.

Fellow º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ graduate Dan Greaves claimed a brilliant bronze in the Men’s F64 Discus. The 40-year-old veteran, who boasts six Paralympic Games medals to his name, recorded a distance of 57.92m to squeeze onto the podium in France’s capital city.  

Elsewhere, Hollie Arnold, who trains under David Turner, won her fifth consecutive Women’s F46 javelin title by throwing a season’s best of 41.06m to take another gold for Britain.

Dan Pembroke, who is also under Turner’s guidance, threw a mammoth European record of 70.50m in the Men’s F13 javelin to take a stunning title. Speaking after the event, Dan was massively grateful for those that continue to support his sporting journey.

“My coach Dave has a really keen eye – which I don’t, pardon the pun – but he sees little things in my run-up and technical faults which I don’t,” he said.

“Thank you very much to Dave, the support team in º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, my friends and family – thank you so much.”

On the final day of competition, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s Zak Skinner secured his first medal at a global games, hitting 6.97m in the T13 long jump to take a maiden bronze.

Also on the track, Olivia Breen followed up her Commonwealth Games success by winning T38 long jump silver and Zac Shaw won bronze in the Men’s T12 100m. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ College alumna, Sophie Hahn, also won bronze with a strong run in the Women’s T38 100m.

There was also medal success in the Universal 4x100m relay, as º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ trio Zac Shaw, Sophie Hahn, and Jonnie Peacock combined to win a thrilling team silver medal.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s medal haul contributed significantly to Britain’s final total of 29 medals, which left Tom Paulson, UK Athletics' head of Paralympic performance, in little doubt that the side are in a good place ahead of next summer’s Paralympic Games.

"It has been a really positive week for the team," he told BBC Sport.

"It has been great to see those experienced hands coming back into the World Championship environment and delivering on the big stage.

"But we've had some new faces coming through who have really stepped up and that has been great to see as well - people like Zac Shaw, Ben Sandilands and Zak Skinner who have all won global medals for the first time.

"With no major since the Tokyo Paralympics and no crowds in Japan, you forget that some of the athletes haven't competed in front of a big crowd before, so for them to come and experience the environment and take it away for next year, whether they medal or not, is positive for us.

"However, there are athletes leaving here knowing they have work to do ahead of next year, but I am excited for what lies ahead over the next 12 months."