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Your Para Sport Journey
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Four-time Paralympic Para canoe gold medallist Curtis McGrath’s return to the World Championships became a golden one, with victory in the men’s KL2 200m final securing his 13th World Championship title.
McGrath’s win helped Australia finish with four gold, one silver and two bronze medals across Para and non-disabled classes.
“I’m pretty stoked with that, I crossed the line and looked across and it didn’t look like I got the win,” McGrath said.
“I didn’t have the greatest start, so to come through and get the result…it was a tight race so I’m very grateful.”
McGrath took time off after the Paris Paralympics, where he won the KL2, to work on other projects and spend time with his young family.
Not my best race but so glad to come away with the win and full points for LA28 qualifying.
After his win on the final day of the Championships, he posted on Instagram:
“Closest final I’ve had! Pushed all the way to the line and I got the win by only three 100th of a second. Not my best race but so glad to come away with the win and full points for @la28 qualifying. That makes it 13 world championship Gold! Time to get home for some down time and welcome baby number 2.”
Earlier at the Championships, Ben Sainsbury won his third World Championship title, capturing the men’s VL1 200, which he also won in 2022 and 2023.
“It’s special – three times now…I haven’t won it since 2023, so to be back on the top step feels amazing,” Sainsbury said after his race.
“It hasn’t sunk in fully yet, but it’s great to be back up there.
There’s a lot of sacrifice that went into this win… but it makes it all worth it when you get moments like this.
He added: “There’s a lot of sacrifice (that went into this win). I moved to the Gold Coast this year, away from my family, and I’m a big family guy … but it makes it all worth it when you get moments like this.”
Your Para Sport Journey
Begins Here
Among the other results, Paris 2024 silver medallist Dylan Littlehales came fourth in men’s KL3 final, Susanna Willis came eighth in the women’s VL2, Sainsbury finished ninth in the KL1, Amy Ralph took fifth in the women’s VL3 B final and Emily Paix came sixth in the women’s VL3 B final.
Image Credit: Romain Bruneau / Paddle Australia.
Paralympics Australia is only able to continue doing its work driving the Paralympic Movement forward in Australia because of the generous support it receives from Government, Corporate Partners and donors.
The focus continues to be on delivering teams to each Summer and Winter Paralympic Games and supporting Para athletes as they enter and progress through the Para sport system and into their post-sporting careers.
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