Abdellatif Baka

Baka made global news at the Rio 2016 Paralympics when he won the men’s 1,500m T13 in a time faster than the Rio 2016 Olympic champion.

In a thrilling race, the Algerian clung on for gold in 3:48.29, a time 0.55 seconds faster than the previous world record, and 1.71 seconds faster than the time US athlete Matt Centrowitz ran on the same track to win Olympic gold just a few weeks earlier.

Prior to Rio 2016, Baka’s best performances had been at the 2013 World Championships where he won 800m T13 (1:54.36) and 1,500m T13 (3:53.05) gold.

Two years later in Doha, Qatar, he could not retain his titles, settling for silver in both events.

But in 2017 Baka finished on top once again, winning the men’s 1,500m T13 (3:52.82) at the World Championships in London, Great Britain, followed by his twin brother Fouad who claimed silver.

The pair reversed that order in the men’s 800m T13 and they are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the visually impaired middle-distance events.