AT times in Doha yesterday, it appeared there were more competitors on the track than in the stands as the IPC World Championships began under stifling desert sun. Not that it will trouble the UK’s Paralympic prospects, not with reputations to forge or protect, not with ambitions to eventually top the medal table.
A gold rush that began early in the shot put as Welshman Aled Davies took victory was accelerated by world record-breaking wins from Sophie Hahn and Kadeena Cox over 100m. And although Sammi Kinghorn was forced to settle for bronze in the T53 200m final, it is but one opportunity among four that the young Borderer will have in Qatar.
The 19-year-old was just outside her personal best in securing her first global medal in 30.72 seconds as Australia’s Angela Ballard surged clear but will continue her quest today over 100m. “I’m going in ranked sixth in a few events,” Kinghorn said. “It’s my first worlds. So it’s about the finals first. But obviously one day, that’s the goal, to be a world and Paralympic champion.”
It is a dream shared by Jo Butterfield, one that may have seemed far-fetched when both women were confined together at Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital in the wintry days of 2012, each recovering from unexpectedly losing the use of their legs and pondering what alternative adventures lay ahead.
“I started playing wheelchair rugby first,” said Butterfield, a genuine medal prospect in both the T51 club and discus throws. “They’d just started a team when I was coming out of hospital. I was a bit stubborn at first. I thought I’d do the Great Scottish Run first. But then I tried rugby and loved it. And Michael Kerr, who played for GB at the Paralympics, trained with me a lot and encouraged me to look to do sport as a job.”
With European records following a continental gold in Swansea last year, the former Army personnel manager can look to Rio 2016 with relish despite her late arrival to athletics. “I started at a good time. I was able to come in, do the Europeans and then now, look to step up to world stage. And then I suppose next would be Rio. It’s been a series of stepping stones.”
Elsewhere, Maria Lyle starts her medal chase today with the 15-year-old from East Lothian debuting in the T35 200 metres.
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