Sabrina Fortune headlined British success on day three of the World Para Athletics Championships 2025 as she set a new world record to claim gold in the women’s F20 shot put.
Fortune (Ryan Spencer-Jones, Deeside) threw a world record 16.75m on her first throw to set the pace in the shot put.
It was a distance that could not be beaten as the 28-year-old outstripped the competition considerably with second place registering a throw of 13.80m.
“I’m over the moon. I’m so, so happy and honestly can’t believe it,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting that far – I wanted 16m and I wanted to push towards LA where I’d hopefully hit a 17m, but this pushes our plan off quite a bit!
“It’s just trusting yourself in that moment, knowing what you are and trusting the process. If you don’t trust your body and your ability, you’re never going to do it.
“The first few weeks I have been throwing really well, I have thrown 16.20/16.40 – so I was expecting something, but I wasn’t expecting that much. My coach only wanted 16m so I may have gone over quite a bit!”
There was also medal success for Mel Woods (Rodger Harkins, Red Star), who claimed bronze in the women’s T54 800m.
Woods clocked 1:49.59, pipping China’s Tian Yajuan to the line to secure her spot on the podium.
“I’m absolutely buzzing! It’s great to be out there and be in the mix amongst those girls, who are great at what they do,” she reflected.
“To be up there and challenging them makes me feel proud. Year on year, consistency has grown – I’ve just been doing the same thing, but building on it every year, getting stronger in the gym, putting more work in and getting faster.
“It’s just about me having had the patience to know that it will pay off at some point. I’m hoping this is the year it’s going to pay towards.”
Sophie Hahn (Joe McDonnell, Charnwood) also achieved a world top-five finish as she came fifth in the women’s T38 100m final in a time of 12.88.
While it was not a medal on this occasion, Hahn is set to go again in the 200m where she will be aiming to come away with silverware.
Luke Sinnott (Bournemouth) managed a top eight finish in the men’s T63 long jump final despite competing through injury.
Sinnott had picked up an injury just before the event started but managed a jump of 6.41 metres to finish seventh in a competitive field.
Dan Gladman (Leigh) qualified third in the men’s T64 100m qualifiers to book his place in the final, while Nathan Maguire (Ste Hoskins, Kirkby) will also feature in a final as he qualified top in the men’s T54 400m heats in 46.25.
In the morning session, 19-year-old Arthur Milles (Trevor Cummings, St Mary’s Richmond) made his senior international debut in the T13 1500m, running a gutsy race to qualify for the final in third place with a time of 4:18.92.
“It was very cagey at the beginning, so I thought it’s probably best for me to get out front, so I don’t have to worry about anyone around me and I can do that clear sprint to the finish,” he said.
“There was always a risk I was going to get run down, and I was, but I have just made it in. I am happy.”
Welsh thrower Funmi Oduwaiye (Josh Clark, DSW Para Academy) threw consistently but just missed out on the F44 discus podium, finishing in fourth with a throw of 37.91. She will go again in the F44 shot put on Wednesday.
Teammate Bree Cronin (Josh Clark, Cardiff) made her international debut in the F44, saving her biggest throw of 37.68 until her last attempt, finishing fifth.
“It wasn’t too bad for my first international – I’m pretty content with that. I’ve learned a lot – it’s a big stage. I’m only used to national level so this is a lot bigger than normal,” she reflected.
“I was okay going into it but when I stepped into the circle my legs were like jelly! It was a different vibe in the circle – I left it a bit too late but after a few throws it was okay, I enjoyed it and I wasn’t so nervous.”
