Looking at Lyon: Men’s 5,000m T54

In the first of nine event previews for the IPC Athletics World Championships, the men’s 5,000m T54 will offer a glimpse of wheelchair racing’s future. 12 Jul 2013

Marcel Hug Julien Casoli rivalry infographic

Switzerland's Marcel Hug and France's Julien Casoli will form a top rivalry at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France

ⒸGetty Images

By IPC

Hug hopes to be the face of wheelchair racing during the next Paralympic cycle, with Casoli as his main challenger, though the Japanese would love to dominate the class on the road to Rio 2016.

When to watch: Heats: 17:37 on 23 July; Final: 18:51 on 24 July

What happened last time: Great Britain’s David Weir took gold in the event at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, with Switzerland’s Marcel Hug grabbing silver and France’s Julien Casoli claiming bronze.

World-record holder: Hug set the current world record with a time of 9:53.05 on 24 June 2010 at a meet in Arbon, Switzerland.

Who to watch: While Weir and Australia’s Kurt Fearnley won’t be in attendance, there are still plenty of challengers to battle Hug to the finish line. The host nation’s Casoli, as well as Canada’s Josh Cassidy and the Japanese trio of Jun Hiromichi, Kota Hokinoue and Masayuki Higuchi could all contend for places on the podium.

Why you should watch: It’s time for Paralympic sport fans to move beyond the success of London 2012 and look toward the potential for the future. This event is the perfect chance for them to do so. Hug hopes to be the face of wheelchair racing during the next Paralympic cycle, with Casoli as his main challenger, though the Japanese would love to dominate the class on the road to Rio 2016. If you’re not familiar with these names now, get to know them, because pretty soon you won’t stop hearing about them.