Former catwalk model Michael Whittaker is all set for a “very special” debut appearance at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi (27 September-5 October 2025), just five years after first taking up running during lockdown.
The vision impaired 35-year-old with a remarkable backstory is all set to compete in the Men’s 5000m T13 at his first global championships next week taking his place alongside some of New Zealand’s finest Paralympians, including #183 Holly Robinson MNZM, #195 Anna Grimaldi MNZM and #210 Lisa Adams.
Since taking his first running steps on Waiheke Island during the pandemic, it has been quite the journey for the Auckland-based endurance Para athlete who finds it hard to comprehend the journey he has taken.
“I remember being awestruck, back in the early days, by the prospect of just finishing a 5km run at any pace,” explains Michael. “Soon I’ll be racing the distance in India, representing New Zealand, at a World Champs. It can be easy to lose track of how inconceivably far that is to come, because I try to just focus on simply being better each day than I was yesterday, but it’s worth remembering to reflect on exactly that. Particularly, perhaps, when you inevitably encounter setbacks or are beset with self-doubt.”
Raised in Whangaparāoa, and in a story that sounds straight out of a movie script, Michael was stopped by a stranger in his teenage years and asked if he had ever considered modelling. Curious, he acted on the advice and in his new vocation he later travelled the world as a catwalk model working for leading brands such as Prada and Dior.
It was while on a modelling assignment in Tokyo in his mid-20s he noticed he had poor night vision. This was later diagnosed as retinitis pigmentosa – a genetic disorder that causes progressive vision loss.
Later returning to Auckland, where he currently studies a PhD in English Literature, Michael recalls how for fitness he started running in lockdown and he quickly enjoyed the freedom he felt.
Determined to improve, he joined a local athletics club in 2023, and he revealed his meteoric rise when setting a national half marathon T13 record of 1h14m at the Auckland Marathon.
Training six times a week and currently under the guidance of coach Vaughan Craddock, he has gone from strength to strength. Recording a time of 15:23.66 in the 5000m at the New Zealand Track & Field Championships in Dunedin in March 2025 – a mark which ranks Michael the fifth fastest in the world so far in his classification in 2025 – was a performance which offered real encouragement.
Following his selection, he commented: “To be named was very special, but largely hypothetical at first,” he says. “It’s only now, that the reality of it – and the scale of the achievement – is starting to hit home. To venture so far to represent New Zealand in competition against the best in the world is such a wild thing. It’s perhaps even too overwhelming to consider at any length or depth, at the moment. I doubt it will feel entirely real until I’m on that start line.”
Combining running with stationary bike workouts have made him stronger and more durable, and he has been satisfied with his preparations for New Delhi.
“I’ve managed all-importantly, to stay relatively injury-free and to be largely consistent with training. And consistency, as anyone successful in athletic endeavours (or, for that matter, life in general) is likely to tell you, is crucial.”
So, what would Michael like to achieve in New Delhi?
“I’m hopeful, most importantly, to make it to the start line healthy,” he adds. “I’m excited, to be alongside team-mates and support staff from whom, as a debutant, I’ve got a great deal to learn. I expect it to be a challenging race, given the air temperature and conditions, but I’m hoping to find some calm with which to work and, in that, delivering an all-out performance of which I’ll be very proud.”
Which Kiwis will be competing in the event?
Comprising three Paralympic gold medallists and three debutants – including Michael – a ten-strong New Zealand team are set to compete at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the host venue for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Grimaldi, who claimed Women’s 200m T47 gold and Women’s 100m T47 bronze at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games targets both events in New Delhi, and Robinson, the 2020 Paralympic Women’s Javelin F46 champion competes in the Women’s Shot Put F46, the event where she won bronze at Paris 2024. Adams, the Tokyo 2020 Women’s Shot Put F37 champion also competes in her specialist event. Double Paris 2024 silver medallist Paralympian #211 Danielle Aitchison starts in the Women’s 100m T36 and Women’s 200m T36 events and five-time Paralympic medallist Paralaympian #208 Will Stedman competes in the Men’s 400m T36 and Men’s Long Jump T36.
Paralympian #234 Mitch Joynt fresh off his national record in the Men’s 200m T64 set in Eugene, Oregon will take to the start line in his speciality event as well as the Men’s 100m T64. Joynt also coaches World Championships debutant Paddy Walsh (Women’s Long Jump T64). While a third athlete set to make their maiden World Para Athletics Championships appearance is Sarah James (Women’s 100m T53, Women’s 400m T53 and Women’s 800m T53). The team is rounded out by Joe Smith (Men’s 100m T37).
When do the Kiwis compete?
For a full schedule go here.
How can I follow the action?
A livestream of the competition can be viewed on the Paralympics YouTube channel.
Photos by Ethan Verner.
