James Turner

More than three years have passed since James Turner first burst onto the international Para-athletics scene, and the rest of the world is still playing catch-up.

He made his Paralympic debut in the men’s 800m T36 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, and from the moment the gun sounded, the race was all but won. Crossing the line in 2:02.39, more than seven seconds ahead of his nearest rival, James obliterated the world record. It was the race of a lifetime, and rightfully earned him the title of Paralympics Australia’s 2016 Rookie of the Year.

Incredibly, James was a bit of an unknown quantity in Para-athletics prior to winning gold. He was an Australian representative in football 7-a-side and only made the switch to the track when the Pararoos missed qualification for the 2016 Paralympic Games.

Ten months post Rio, James proved he was more than a one-trick pony, pushing his body to the limit to win three world titles from three events at the 2017 World Para-athletics Championships in London, England, before relocating to the ACT in 2018 to train under esteemed Para-athletics coach Iryna Dvoskina and alongside three of the world’s most professional Para-athletes in Scott Reardon, Vanessa Low and Chad Perris.

James reaped the rewards of this partnership at last November’s World Para-athletics Championships in Dubai, UAE, extending his unbeaten run at major events with world titles in the men’s 100m T36 and men’s 400m T36 – and world records in both.

While James did not have the opportunity to defend his Paralympic title in the men’s 800m T36 at the  Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games – it was removed from the Paralympic program – he was able to race in both the 200m and 400m.

In the 400m T36 final, James was able to claim gold with a Paralympic record of 0:52.80.

James ran a time of 0:12.00 in the 100m T36 final, claiming silver – his second medal at the Games.