Paris 23: Safia Djelal takes elusive gold in style

Algeria’s Safia Djelal broke her own world record by the finest margin – just one centimetre - to win the women’s shot put F57 at the Paris 23 World Para Athletics Championships on Saturday morning (15 July).

The Paralympic champion cheered with delight when the result flashed up on the screen after her first throw at the Charlety Stadium on day eight. The 40-year-old, who set the record at the Tokyo 2020 Games, secured the gold in 11.57m.

The win was among the highlights of the morning session when six finals were held. There was also Argentina’s Brian Impellizzeri’s brilliant performance in the long jump when he smashed the championship record to pick his country’s first gold in the French capital. And Australia’s James Turner’s second gold of Paris 2023 in the men’s 100m.

Djelal, who came fifth in the javelin, set the bar high in the shot put with her nearest rival, China’s Mian Xu, finishing nearly a metre behind with a season’s best 10.77m. The champion’s teammate Nassima Saifi, who was a silver medallist in the last edition in Dubai in 2019, claimed the bronze. It was Djelal's first world title following bronze medals at London 2017 and Dubai 2019.

There was more women’s shot put action in the field with China’s Juan Yao retaining her World Championships F64 crown. Her throw of 11.85 was a season’s best. Nigeria’s Goodness Nwachukwu launched a massive throw, which was two metres longer than her lifetime best in 11.64, to secure her silver. And USA’s Samantha Heyison, who is just 17 and making her championships debut, took home bronze in 10.83.

In the third shot put final, Ukraine’s Paralympic, world and European champion, Mariia Pomazan had a season’s best throw of 12.84 to win gold in the F35 class. China’s Jun Wang, the Paralympic champion in Rio 2016, claimed silver and Uzbekistan’s Dilafruzkhon Akhmatkhonova bronze.

Argentina’s Brian Impellizzeri was the undisputed star of the long jump F37. The Paralympic silver medallist set a new championship record and extended the Americas record in 6.67m, which was 23 centimetres longer than his personal best. The 24-year-old’s gravity defying jump beat reigning Paralympic champion Vladyslav Zahrebelnyi into silver and France’s Valentin Bertrand bronze. The crowd erupted in cheers for the home favourite, who ran straight to hug his coach. It was the nation’s third bronze of the Championships.

Among those in crowd watching Impellizzeri lift his first World Championships crown was the Netherland’s long jump team, including Paralympic champion Fleur Jong, who won two golds this week. They dashed over to congratulate him and the rest of the medallists.

Turner ready for Paris 2024

Out on the track, Australia’s James Turner also collected his second gold of Paris 23 in the men’s 100m T36. After a slow start, the 27-year-old, who won the 400m title, powered past Algeria’s Mokhtar Didane in the last 30 metres to finish in 11.85. 

Didane, in silver, set a new Africa record in 11.99 with Argentina’s Aleis Chavez in bronze and a season’s best (12.03). China’s reigning Paralympic champion Peicheng Deng had to settle for fourth.

Looking ahead to the Paralympics next year in the French capital, Turner, who won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games, said: “After Tokyo, I came home with the mindset that I’m not going to let anything stop me.

“It is the same answer [I want to give] in Paris next year, hopefully with a couple of golds and world records. I am already looking forward to going back to my training and get even better.” 

Turner paid tribute to his coach Iryna Dvoskina, who he hugged after his win. “She’s absolutely key to my success, studying, training, analysing, everything,” he said.

Day eight was rounded off with an impressive win by Brazil’s two-time Paralympic and world champion Alessandro Da Silva in the men’s discus throw F11. He set a season’s best 45.30 with Iran’s Mahdi Olad in silver claiming an area record in 43.73. Spain’s Alvaro de Amo Cano in bronze (37.60m).

The Paris 23 World Championships can be followed live on the World Para Athletics website and Facebook page with geo-blocking restriction in certain territories. To know where to watch click here.

Complete schedule, results, medallists and records are available here.