Para Athletics World Championships: Bronze for Little

15 July 2023

Para Athletics World Championships: Bronze for Little

Three-time Paralympian Rosemary Little has won her first global medal in 10 years and Australia’s fifth at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships when securing a brilliant bronze on day six of competition in Paris.

Launching a 6.33m bomb in the second round of the Shot Put F32 competition, wheelchair racer and thrower Little landed herself in the bronze medal position when surpassing the 6.26m mark of the UAE’s Mounia Gasmi, ensuing an agonising wait as the last of 10 competitors took to the chair.

“I never thought the words of being a field event medallist would come out of my mouth. It doesn't really ever matter to me where I come as long as I do a personal best. If I happen to medal, it's a bonus," Little said.

Adding to her Paralympic bronze at the London Games and 2013 World Para Athletics Championships haul of silver and bronze in Lyon, Little’s personal best throw secured her first global medal in a field event - breaking a decade-long drought at the age of 40.

“This one is slightly different because it comes of a place of hard work, fighting my way out of a place of being severely disabled. I could have sat in a power chair and not done a lot and accepted my fate, but the athlete in me keeps on going," Little said.

Complementing Little’s performance, teenager Sarah Clifton-Bligh (NSW) added another appearance on the world stage to her name with a personal best of 5.26m for seventh place.

Heats were not required for Mali Lovell who will compete in the T36 100m final tonight.

Day 7 SCHEDULE for NSW athletes:

Sunday 02:35 AEST: Men T54 100m heat Luke Bailey

Sunday 03:05 AEST: Women T36 200m Final Mali Lovell

Sunday 05:28 AEST: Men T54 100m final Luke Bailey

Article Athletics Australia

Image: Rosemary Little (courtesy of Athletics Australia)