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Peter Milsom/Supplied
Danielle Aitchison leaves the rest of the field in her wake to win gold in the women’s 200m T36 in Paris.
Kiwi sprinter Danielle Aitchison has stormed her way to gold in the women’s 200m T36 at the Para Athletics World Championships, breaking the Oceania record in the process.
The 21-year-old Hamilton-based athlete destroyed the rest of the field to come home in a time of 28.50 seconds – a massive 1.6sec clear of Australia’s silver medallist Mali Lovell.
The stunning result comes days after Aitchison secured silver in the women’s 100m T36 and continues the New Zealand team’s strong showing in the French capital.
“I am feeling so happy with my 200m, it was amazing. I had no idea where any of the girls I just had to keep running my own race until I got past that finish line,” an elated Aitchison said after her record-breaking run.
“I didn’t think I would run that fast, I was actually a bit tired today, so I took on a technical approach to get my arms and pelvis to tilt to cross that ground, which is exactly what I did.”
Drawn in lane three, Aitchison went into the final with the fastest personal best in the absence of world 100m T36 gold medallist and defending champion Yiting Shi of China.
On a warm evening in Paris, Aitchison got off to an outstanding start and never looked back, entering the home straight with a lead of more than five metres.
Athletics NZ/Supplied
Anna Grimaldi will look to back up her bronze in the women’s 100m T47 in in the women’s long jump T47 final.
She kept up her blistering pace until the finish line to wipe 0.48sec from her New Zealand record of 28.98sec.
The previous Oceania record of 29.86sec – held by Aitchison – was posted at the 2019 Para Athletics World Championships in Dubai.
German Nicole Nicoleitzik claimed bronze in 30.84sec to match the same colour medal she won in the 100m T36 event.
Moments after winning gold, Aitchison was met by her emotional mother Tracy and joked she “couldn’t get a word in” as they shared a post-race embrace.
“She was beside herself crying saying how proud she was and how much she loves me.”
Aitchison said her results at the competition made her feel confident she is on the “right pathway” heading into next year’s Paralympic Games in Paris.
“It also gives me the confidence that I can win gold medals – it is a booster.”
New Zealand will chase more gold on Saturday night (Sunday NZT) when Paralympic champion Anna Grimaldi competes in the women’s long jump T47 final.
Grimaldi earlier won bronze in the women’s 100m T47 final.
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