Gold Coast 2018: Para athletics teams announced

A number of Paralympic and world champion athletes have been named by their respective countries to compete in the Para athletics programme at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

T38 sprinters Sophie Hahn and Kadeena Cox, who have two Paralympic and seven world athletics titles between them are the stand-out performers in Team England’s 18-strong Para athletics squad set for April’s event in Australia. The pair will line-up in the 100m T38, an event that Hahn is the Paralympic and world champion in, as well as the world record holder.

Richard Chiassaro, a London 2017 bronze medallist over 200m T54, will also compete at the Commonwealth Games, but this time over 1,500m T54 alongside teammate Nathan Maguire. Sprinter Zac Shaw has been selected for the men’s 100m T12.

They will be joined by Katrina Hart and Jade Jones, who will be looking to add to their previous Commonwealth Games experiences on the Gold Coast. Jones won a bronze medal at Glasgow 2014 in the 1,500m T54, while Hart claimed the 100m T37 gold in the 100m T37 event in Delhi 2010.

Triple World champion, Kadeena Cox, said: “I am delighted to be called-up to the England team for the Commonwealth Games. I’ve been lucky enough to compete at Paralympic and World Para Athletics Championships so to get a chance to compete at these Games as well is very special and I can’t wait to race in the Gold Coast.

“It is fantastic that the Para programme has grown at the Commonwealth Games; seeing such inclusivity between able bodied and Para athletes. We have a really strong team. After the success of the World Para Athletics Championships earlier this year, it is great to have the opportunity to compete on the big stage again and hopefully inspire new fans to the sport.”

The Welsh team of six Para athletes is headlined by Hollie Arnold and Olivia Breen, athletes who both secured world titles at London 2017 this summer.

Arnold is a three-time world champion in the javelin F46 event and will be hoping to add Commonwealth gold to the Paralympic title she won at Rio 2016. She will not have it her own way however as she will go up against Rio 2016 and London 2017 silver medallist Holly Robinson who has been named as part of the New Zealand team.

After winning her first world title at London 2017, Breen will start full of confidence when she lines up in her favoured long jump T38 event. The 21-year-old will also go head-to-head with Hahn and Cox over 100m at the Canberra Stadium.

James Ledger, Rhys Jones and Morgan Jones will also represent Wales over 100m in the T12, T37 and T47 classes respectively. T37 athlete Beverley Jones will join Breen in the long jump competition.

Scotland will have three Para athletes competing, led by 100m and 200m T53 world champion Sammi Kinghorn. The wheelchair racer broke her own 200m record at London 2017, and will be moving up in distance to tackle the 1500m and marathon at the Commonwealths. Rio 2016 T35 medallist Maria Lyle and Junior Worlds T35-38 medallist Amy Carr complete the line-up.

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will take place from 4-15 April. The event will set a new Commonwealth Games record by hosting 38 medal events across seven sports.

Team England

• Amar Aichoun - 100m T38

• Katrina Hart - 100m T38

• Nicole Emerson - 1,500m and marathon T54

• Richard Chiassaro - 1,500m T54

• Jade Jones - 1,500m and marathon T54

• Zachary Shaw - 100m T12

• James Arnott - 100m T47

• Labrooy Dillon - 1,500m T54

• Nathan Maguire - 1,500m T54

• Simon Lawson - Marathon T54

• John Smith - Marathon T54

• Joshua Bain - Shot Put F38

• Callum Hall - Marathon T54

• Sophie Hahn - 100m T38

• Kadeena Cox - 100m T38

• Daphne Schrager - 100m T35

• Maria Verdeille - 100m T35

• Molly Kingsbury - Long jump T38

Team Wales

• James Ledger - 100m T12

• Rhys Jones - 100m T37

• Morgan Jones - 100m T47

• Olivia Breen - 100m and long jump T38

• Hollie Arnold - Javelin F46

• Beverly Jones - Long jump T38

Team Scotland

• Amy Carr - Long jump T37

• Samantha Kinghorn - 1,500m and marathon T53

• Maria Lyle - 100m T35

New Zealand

• Holly Robinson - Javelin F46