Podcast #52: World Para Champs special and Commonwealth Youth Games preview
This podcast is a World Para Athletics Championships special, with three of the nation's accomplished stars - wheelchair racer Karé Adenegan, sprinter Tom Young and high jumper Jonathan Broom-Edwards - all joining host Alex Seftel to talk about everything from best career moments to challenges they have overcome.
This episode also marks the announcement of England Athletics' team for the Commonwealth Youth Games - which for the first time ever will include para athletes.
"I want to run really well and I want to win but after missing the Commonwealth Games through injury, it'll just be really nice to get back into the team spirit."
Paralympic champion in the T38 100m Tom Young
In talking about what can be done to put more of a spotlight on Para Athletics, the panel called for more competition opportunities, more televised events and more dialogue with competitors.
"There's something that a stadium delivers that you can't recreate anywhere else. I'm personally excited because I feel in really good shape and ready to hit a personal best that I've been chasing for years."
Paralympic champion and four-time world medallist Jonathan Broom-Edwards
"There are amazing para athletes who are performing consistently and have got all of the medals, but still aren't necessarily getting the recognition or getting the support that Olympians have."
Five-time Paralympic and five-time world medallist Karé Adenegan
Team Leader for the Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August Scott Grace joins along with Welsh Athletics CEO James Williams and England Athletics Head of Talent Development Sarah Benson, with proposals to change age group categories for young athletes discussed.
"I'm extremely excited. It's the first time since 2017 that we'll be taking a team to the Commonwealth Youth Games. It's been the starting point for many of our senior athletes including Jazmin Sawyers and Dina Asher-Smith. It's a great opportunity to experience a high-level games and a great platform for the sport as well to see the future superstars."
Scott Grace
Sarah Benson on the inclusion of para athletes:
"It is an important move for integrating but also for creating a pathway for age group athletes within the Paralympic pathway. It gives them a real focus and an opportunity to grow the depth."
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Photo by Mark Shearman