A sixth world championship medal for Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland (GB & NI) athlete Dan Greaves in the discus and a historic bronze for Funmi Oduwaiye in the shot put.
Oduwaiye (Josh Clark, DSW Para Academy) won bronze in the F44 shot put, winning her first-ever global medal in the event. With her opening throw, she threw 12.11m, setting a new personal best in the process.
“It feels really good. I am really happy with the outcome. As I took it calmly, usually when I am calm and collected, throws go usually better than expected, so it was good that it was my first throw and only valid – I will take it.
“I felt relaxed, there were a few nerves last night, but I just gave it all to god and put it all in his hands. After that first throw, I was able to remain calm and try to improve on it. There were a few good ones, but unfortunately, I was making silly little mistakes – which I don’t usually make, but as long as the first one was valid!”
Later in the evening, cheered on by his throwing team mates, Dan Greaves (Zane Duquemin, Charnwood) took to the circle in his 8th World Championship alongside Welshman Harrison Walsh (Ryan Spencer-Jones, Swansea) in a fierce F44 discus competition.
The experienced Greaves threw 52.42 in his fifth attempt to solidify his position in third, with the Colombian throwing a new personal best over 60m to take the title.
“For me, the performance wasn’t great. I have quite high standards for myself, and training has been going really well; unfortunately, this year it has just been a bit hit and miss.
“We have had some really good results and really poor results. I thought I would throw further today and really challenge for the lead, as that is the sort of distances we have been throwing in training.
“When I look back, when I am long time retired, it is when you look back in your career and look back at your trophy cabinet for me getting another medal at a world champs – I am so proud of my team that have got me here.”
Walsh opened his competition with his furthest throw of 51.49 and consistently threw around the 51 mark, finishing in fifth, 1m behind Dan in third.
“It is two places better than it was in Paris, so better performance, just a couple of things could have gone a different way and could have got a different result, but that is sport and why I do it. I love it for that reason and hate it at the same time.”
Melanie Woods (Roger Harkins, Red Star) did the double, qualifying for the final of the T54 400m in the morning and racing in the evening for the final. She finished in a nail-biting close photo finish in fourth, with a time of 53.51, where Belgium’s Bayekula broke the championship record to claim the title.
Reflecting on the Championships, where she won her first global medals—bronze each in the 800 and 1500 — she is left wanting more.
She said, “As I say, I don’t think I can be greedy. Coming into this with two medals, it is so funny how your perspective quickly changes to wanting more. I came into this, my first international was four years ago, and I have grown since then and have to remind myself there is still so much more to get out. Overall, pretty happy!”
