Grand Prix 2024: It’s all Debrunner in Dubai to begin the season

We promised a star-studded first World Para Athletics Grand Prix of 2024, and that is exactly what we got. Because if this opening to the campaign is anything to go by, what is to come over the next few months will be unmissable. 

Despite a start marred by the postponement of the opening day after heavy rainfall, the three days of action we did have brought standout performances from two icons of the Paralympic world.

Debrunner defies the opposition

Nobody will be more satisfied with their work in Dubai than the iconic Catherine Debrunner (T53). In a truly packed field across the T34/52/53/54 classes, the Swiss sensation delivered a run of performances that have put the world on notice ahead of the World Championships in Kobe and Paralympic Games in Paris.

Facing off against the illustrious Great Britain duo of Hannah Cockroft (T34) and Samantha Kinghorn (T53) as well as USA’s great Tatyana McFadden (T54), Debrunner delivered time and again in an opening day which saw her pick up three gold medals. The success in the 100m, 800m and 1500m came in various styles. 100m saw her pip Kinghorn to the line, while in the other two the Swiss athlete dominated the field for big victories. 

And as if that was not enough, Debrunner would emerge on top of the podium for both the 400m T53 and the 5000m T54. 

Marcel the Magnificent

Not to be outdone by his friend and teammate, Marcel Hug (T54) ensured he was the talk of the town with four gold medals of his own from a successful midweek excursion. 

Made to wait after the opening day postponement, the time only seemed to make the 12-time world champion even hungrier to start 2024 in the right way. And for Hug – much like Debrunner – he had to secure the wins amongst legendary opposition. 

David Weir (T54) was just one of those he found himself up against. “It was nice to be in contention again on the track, race neck-and-neck with Marcel [Hug]. It gives me a chance to be selected for Great Britain in the track for Paris 2024. It was probably one of the best decisions to come here early in the season.” 

In other news…

We even had a few world records* to tick off! Belgian duo Roger Habsch and Maxime Carabin set record times in the men’s 100m T51 and the 100m T52 respectfully. The first of many that we can expect over the coming months. 

Local fans had a lot to celebrate as UAE’s Paralympic star Mohamed Alhammadi (T34) who took a gold medal in the men’s 800m. 

“The work continues and there’s still a few months to the big events,” Hammadi said. “It was a good timing for me. Dubai GP was an important event as it was more about analysing my opponents and the improvements they have made. I am happy I was able to execute my plan and it worked well for me."

Complete results from the Dubai 2024 Grand Prix can be found here.

What’s to come next?

In three weeks the best in the world will head to Tunisian capital Tunis for three days, swiftly to be followed by trips to Jesolo, Italy and Xalapa, Mexico before the Grand Prix season takes a pause in late April after Marrakech, Morocco.

And if you wondered why it pauses then, we’ve got two words for you: World Championships. From 17-25th May, Kobe will be the home of what promises to be a simply unmissable competition. 

The Grand Prix will resume in June with the Notwill GP in Switzerland followed by the final stop in Paris, just two months before the Paralympic Games also in the French capital.

Expect shocks, expect big names, expect the unexpected.