Berlin 2018: Five stars of the future

Breakthrough performers who make big impression at Europeans 30 Aug 2018 By IPC

Experienced stars such as Marcel Hug, Martina Caironi, Leo Pekka Tahti and Markus Rehm continued to dominate, claiming 10 gold medals between them at the Berlin 2018 European Championships.

But who were the breakthrough performers that made a big impression? Here are five Para athletes from Berlin 2018 that could well go on to achieve even more:

1. Thomas Young (Great Britain)

Making his senior international debut in the British vest, Young looked very much at home on the track in Berlin.

The 18-year-old claimed two terrific gold medals, first in the 200m T38, where he set a new personal best (23.70), then just 24 hours later he added 100m T38 gold.

2. Anastasiia Moskalenko (Ukraine)

The 18-year-old clinched two gold medals in Berlin, first in the shot put F32, where she set a new championship record (5.65m). Then two days later in the club throw F32 where she set a new personal best (19.42m) – a mark that also propelled her up to fourth in the world rankings behind the likes of Tunisia’s Maroua Ibrahmi and Algerian Mounia Gasmi.

3. Sandro Patricio Correia Baessa (Portugal)

The Portuguese teenager – he turned 19 this year - claimed double gold in Berlin, winning the 400m and 800m T20 at his first major championships against experienced Para athletes such as Poland’s Daniel Pek and Briton Steve Morris. His time of 1:54.80 in the 800m puts him second in the world rankings this year behind US Paralympic and world champion Michael Brannigan.

4. Krysztof Ciukza (Poland)

Ciuksza, 20, made his senior international debut at the 2016 European Championships, where he won 400m T36 silver and 800m T36 bronze. He rose to the top this time, claiming 200m and 400m T36 gold as well as bronze over 100m.

5. Redouane Hennouni (France)

Frenchman Hennouni pulled on the French vest for the first time at Berlin 2018 – he only began competing in Para athletics this year.

Up against world silver medallist Louis Radius in the men’s 1,500m T38, the 29-year-old led from the gun and never looked in doubt. Now he’s set his sights even higher and it’s hard to bet against him.

“Now I want to finish first on the podium at the Paralympic Games, but before that there is the World Championships - and you can count on me,” said Hennouni.