London 2017: Day 6 Preview

The world’s fastest female Paralympian Omara Durand competes in the 100m T12 on Wednesday (19 July), the sixth day of competition at the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017.

Durand won a hat trick of gold medals at Rio 2016, setting new world records in both the 100m and 400m T12, and the 25-year-old looked in terrific form when she cruised through the heats on Tuesday (18 July).

Another sprinter to watch out for is Australia’s Isis Holt. Just 16-years-old, Holt already has three Paralympic medals to her name, as well as two world golds from Doha 2015. She defended her 200m title on Sunday (16 July) and is the fastest on paper this year over the shorter sprint.

Ukraine’s Leilia Adzhametova is aiming to complete a hat trick of gold medals on day six having already won the 100m and 200m T13. The 23-year-old lines up in the 400m T13 alongside the likes Portugal’s Carolina Duarte and Moroccan Sanaa Benhama.

The final of the men’s 400m T47 also takes place and features 100m T47 champion Petrucio Ferreira of Brazil. Austria’s Gunther Matzinger and Jamaica’s Shane Hudson won each of the two heats; watch out too for Rio 2016 champion Ernesto Blanco of Cuba.

In the day’s longer distances, don’t miss US wheelchair legend Tatyana McFadden who goes for gold in the 800m T54.

The 28-year-old has already won a remarkable three gold medals here in London and adding a fourth would be particularly special give the year she has had so far.

The American has undergone several operations to treat blood clots in her legs and missed much of the season - but she’s certainly making up for it now.

The men’s 1,500m T13 features Moroccan Youssef Benibrahim, who won his first ever world title over 5,000m on Sunday (16 July). Only time will tell whether the 33-year-old can maintain his winning streak – and it certainly won’t be easy, with a line-up that includes Rio 2016 champion and world record holder Abdellatif Baka.

The Algerian made headlines last year when he led home the field at the Paralympic Games in world record time – the top four Para athletes, including his twin brother Fouad, all ran faster than the time it took Matt Centrowitz to win the Olympic title a few weeks earlier.

Baka tops the 1,500m T13 rankings this year, but watch out too for Australian Jaryd Clifford, Tunisian Bilel Aloui and Moroccan El Amin Chentouf.

Five gold medals will be decided out in the field, including the women’s shot put F41 and the men’s long jump T47.

There’s no doubt Tunisan Raoua Tlili will start as favourite in the shot put event; the 27-year-old is the three-time Paralympic champion and defending world champion and already has a gold medal from the discus F41 on Saturday tucked away in her kitbag.

Heading up the field in the men’s long jump T47 is the USA’s Paralympic champion Roderick Townsend-Roberts. The talented multi-eventer won the high jump T47 on Sunday (16 July) and he could prove hard to beat once again.