Nottwil 2019: What you need to know

Today (1 August) marks exactly one year to go before the start of the 2019 World Para Athletics Junior Championships in Nottwil, Switzerland.

Here is what you need to know…

What is it?

The 2019 World Para Athletics Junior Championships will be the second edition of the event, following the highly successful inaugural event in 2017.

The Championships cater for two age groups – youth athletes aged between 14 and 17 years and junior athletes aged between 18 and 19 years – and serve as a pathway for talented young athletes towards regional and World Championships, as well as the Paralympic Games.

In 2017 285 athletes from 41 nations took part; around 350 athletes from over 50 nations are expected to line up at Nottwil 2019.

Where will the Championships take place?

Like last time, the event will take place at Sport Arena, Nottwil, in the grounds of the Swiss Paraplegic Centre. The popular venue, which has an eight-lane Mondo track, has hosted the World Para Athletics Grand Prix for the last six years.

When is it?

The competition takes place over four days, from 1-4 August 2019, and kicks off with a special opening ceremony on 1 August, which is Swiss National Day. Expect a nod to Swiss traditions to celebrate!

What happened last time?

The 2017 edition saw many superb performances from young athletes from around the world.

One notable performer was South African Ntando Mahlangu, who won all four of the events he took part in - the long jump F42-F47, 400m, 200m and 100m T42/47.

Mahlangu, who was 15-years-old at the time of the competition, also set what was then a new 100m T42 world record, clocking 12.01 seconds. His phenomenal progress has continued - in July this year the talented teenager saw off Paralympic champion Richard Whitehead at the Anniversary Games in London (Great Britain).

In 2017 USA topped the medals table – wheelchair racer Hannah Dedrick claimed three golds of her own - with Iran in second place claiming 12 golds, five silvers and five bronze.