Five facts about…..the USA’s Rachael Morrison

After emerging on the scene last year, the USA’s Rachael Morrison has made quite an impact, breaking world records and winning regional titles.

Doha 2015 will be her first major international event, so ahead of October’s World Championships here are five facts you might not know about her:

1.Morrison took up athletics in 2014, and began throwing by chance – she arrived at her first event intending to try out cyling.

2.Within a month of making her debut in the club throw, Morrison broke the world record – a mark which had stood for 13 years.

3.The 28-year-old won discus F51/52 gold and club throw F31/32/51 silver at August’s Parapan American Games in Canada, her first major championships.

4.The American also holds the world record for the discus F51, throwing 11.24m at the US Nationals in June this year.

5.As a teenager Morrison took part in numerous sports, including football, softball, swimming, gymnastics, figuring skating – and with a marching band.

The IPC Athletics World Championships will take place in Doha, Qatar, between 21-31 October, attracting 1,400 athletes from 100 countries.