It was three out of three for Welsh athletes on day one of the World Para Athletics European Championships in Berlin, Germany. Hollie Arnold and Harri Jenkins won gold and it was bronze for Laura Sugar on a great opening day.
Hollie Arnold completed the women’s F46 javelin Grand Slam as she took gold in a championship record.
Arnold held the Paralympic, world and Commonwealth titles heading into the event and broke the Championship Record three times on her way to collecting her first European title.
Arnold’s opening effort of 38.94m was followed by a fourth-round 39.71m which was then bettered in the final round with a throw of 40.15m, the first time a 40m plus distance has been achieved at the European Championships.
After taking gold, Arnold said: “I am so happy to have all the titles now. It’s incredible to think I am Paralympic champion, world champion, world record holder and now European champion. I wasn’t expecting the Europeans to be in because my event is not normally in, so this is a bonus. This is just a stepping stone ready for next year and Tokyo. I am so excited to get knuckling down for winter training.”
After winning the Commonwealth title and extending her world record in April, it has been a long season for Arnold, but paid special tribute to her coach David Turner for his support throughout the season.
“A massive thanks to my coach Dave Turner; he has been an absolute legend, supporting me through my ups and downs and before this competition we were like ‘we’re not ready’ but today just proves that it is still there, and I am really excited for the next upcoming events. He [Dave] is fantastic, we are a perfect match for coach and athlete, he just gets me and supports me. He has really helped me side-by-side and I probably wouldn’t be here winning this gold medal if it wasn’t for him so a massive thanks to him. We have got bigger things to fry and I am really excited for the next few months ahead.”
On his international debut for GB & NI, Harri Jenkins kick-started the gold medal haul for the British team as he won the T33 100m.
With two athletes lining up in the event, both competitors knew only the winner would take home a medal. With this on the line, the Welshman was fired up and pushed hard to win in a time of 19.44 (-0.2), defeating Denis Schmitz (GER).
With his family cheering him on in the crowd, the South Wales-based athlete was buoyed to his first international medal as he asserted himself on this stage.
Jenkins commented afterwards: “I didn’t get out very well, but this track isn’t the best for times, so I wasn’t really concentrating on that, it was just about getting the win. I was going into the event hoping for gold and I have come away with it in the end, so I am really happy.
“Before coming out I was really disappointed I was competing right at the start of the week, but when I got here I was so happy I was right at the start. This week is going to be a lovely learning curve for me for the future, I am just going to soak in this week and just learn where everything is and how everything goes, and this is what this week will give me. I think this week will be key going forward to hopefully the world championships next year and going forward to Tokyo.”
Adding to her European medal collection, Laura Sugar was a bronze medallist once again in the T44/ 64 100m. Blasting out of the blocks, she got the better of eventual gold and silver medallists Marlene van Gansewinkel (NED) and Irmgard Bensusan (GER) over the opening half of the race but was overhauled by the fast finishing pair to clock a time of 13.63 (+0.8).
However, she was content with her first race of the week, with the 200m coming up on Wednesday.
She added: “I looked at the second-place time and that would have been a big PB for me to have come second. I would have liked to still come third in that race but with a slightly quicker time. But I am happy I have got a medal. I had two world record holders against me, but I knew I wanted to push in the first 60 which I think I did. The last 40m is not quite there yet, but I am getting there.
Today
Coming up later today is Sabrina Fortune in the F20 Shot Put at 18.34 (UK Time)
For more information and to watch a live feed please visit here: https://www.paralympic.org/berlin-2018
