New Delhi, Oct 2: Swiss wheelchair athlete Catherine Debrunner etched her name in the record books by becoming the first competitor to win three gold medals at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.On the fifth day of competition, Debrunner claimed the 1500m T54 title, clocking a championships record time of 3 minutes 16.81 seconds. This victory followed her earlier wins in the 5000m T54 and 800m T53 events at the same meet.
In the 1500m final, defending champion Zhou Zhaoqian of China finished second, continuing a pattern from the 800m event where she had also been overtaken.
Debrunner, who had already won four golds at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, aims to surpass that feat here, with the 100m and 400m races still to come.
The Indian contingent did not win a medal on Wednesday, but India maintained a position of 4 golds, 4 silvers, and 1 bronze in the overall tally.
Vladimir Sviridov, competing as a Neutral Para Athlete, staged a dramatic shot put F36 finish, landing a 17.01m throw on his final attempt to snatch gold from defending champion Yassine Guenichi.
In the women’s long jump T38, Luca Ekler of Hungary broke her own record twice during the contest and clinched gold with a leap of 5.91m.
In the men’s 400m T38, Jaydin Blackwell (USA) set a new world record on the way to his victory.
Catherine Debrunner’s performance in New Delhi marks yet another milestone in her illustrious career, as she pursues even greater heights in the remaining races.