Everything you need to know about the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships
The 2023 World Para Athletics Championships takes place in Paris from this weekend (8-17 July)! Find out below who is competing from NZ and how to watch and support.
What is the World Para Athletics Championships?
The World Para Athletics Championships is a Paralympic track and field meet organised by World Para Athletics (part of the International Paralympic Committee). 2023 will be the 10th edition of the event. The Charlety Stadium in Paris, France, will host the event from 8 to 17 July 2023.
Who will compete?
New Zealand will send a 7-strong team to compete at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris (8-17 July). Athletics New Zealand has announced a highly experienced team, including all 5 New Zealand Tokyo 2020 Paralympic medallists (team announcement).
Click on the athlete’s name to find out more about them.
| Para athlete | Events | Coach |
|---|---|---|
| Lisa Adams | shot put F37 | Dame Valerie Adams |
| Danielle Aitchison | 100m and 200m T36 | Alan McDonald |
| Anna Grimaldi | long jump and 100m T47 | Michael Jacobs |
| Mitch Joynt | 200m T64 | Hamish Meacheam |
| Holly Robinson | shot put and javelin F46 | Raylene Bates |
| Joe Smith | 100m T37 | Hamish Meacheam |
| William Stedman | 400m and long jump T36 | George Edwards |
How to watch the World Para Athletics Championships
TVNZ will be screening the Championships on TVNZ+. Follow the action between 7-10pm (day session) and 4am-7am (evening session) each day.
Find out what time the Kiwis compete on athletics.org.nz.
View the full schedule published by the organisers.
How to find results
Athletics New Zealand will share results from the event as they happen on their social media.
Moments to watch out for
At Paralympics New Zealand we can’t wait to see all of the Kiwis compete! Make sure you don’t miss the moments below.
- Paralympic shot put F37 champion Lisa Adams will be seeking back-to-back World Championship golds following victory at the last World Championships in 2019. Rotorua-based Adams, 32, holds the world shot put F37 record of 15.50m and leads the world rankings.
- Two-time Paralympic champion Anna Grimaldi will compete in the women’s long jump T47 and 100m T47. This is the 4th World Championships for the 26-year-old Dunedin-based athlete. She won long jump T47 bronze on her debut in 2015 and upgraded to silver in the 2019 edition.
- Tokyo Paralympic javelin F46 champion Holly Robinson MNZM has earned her place in what will be her sixth World Championships. After making her debut at the 2011 edition, the Dunedin-based athlete has claimed three silver and one bronze medal at the world championships.
- Four-time Paralympic medallist Will Stedman will compete in the men’s 400m T36 and men’s long jump T36. The 24-year-old Christchurch athlete will seek medals, having won long jump T36 silver and 400m T36 bronze at Tokyo 2020.
- Sprinter Danielle Aitchison claimed silver and bronze in the women’s 200m and 100m T36 respectively at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. The 21-year-old Hamilton-based athlete is set to compete in both sprint events in these World Championships.
- Mitch Joynt is in fine form, having set an Oceania 200m T64 record at the New Zealand Track & Field Championships in March.
- Joe Smith makes his World Championships debut in 2023. The 25-year-old Aucklander has been selected in the men’s 100m T37, in which he is currently ranked 10th in the world.
The New Zealand Para Athletics Team is looking strong and ready to compete at their best!
