First crop of world-class para events announced for Müller Games
Four of Britain’s biggest multi-medalled para athletics stars are amongst the first to be confirmed to compete when the programme of para athletics events take centre stage at this summer’s Müller Anniversary Games.
World record holders in the women’s 100m and 200m in the T11 and T38 classifications respectively, Libby Clegg (Joe McDonnell) and Sophie Hahn (Joe McDonnell), will be joined by multiple global medallist Richard Whitehead (Keith Antoine).
Kare Adenegan (Job King), who at the age of just 15 picked up a silver and two bronze medals at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, joins the trio and returns to the London Stadium, a venue at which she claimed a further three medals at last summer’s World Para Athletics Championships.
Hahn produced two electric displays on home soil at last summer’s World Para Athletics Championships and is relishing the prospect of being back in front of British fans at the Anniversary Games, where she’ll be competing in the women’s T37/38 200m.
Speaking ahead of competing at July’s Muller Anniversary Games, Sophie Hahn said:
“It will be amazing to compete in front of a home crowd once again. The London Stadium is a very special place for me, and I’ll never forget winning two gold medals and setting two world records there last summer in front of my friends and family.
“When I step back into the stadium I am sure that all those memories will come flooding back, so I can’t wait to go back and hopefully create some new ones this summer at the Muller Anniversary Games - it is a huge event, so to be a part of it once again is really exciting.”
Triple Paralympic medallist from Rio 2016 in the T34 100m, 400m and 800m, Adenegan will be in action over 100m in London and is counting down the days until returning to the London Stadium once more following triple medal joy last summer.
“The Anniversary Games is one of my favourite events to do each year; I’ve been lucky enough to compete at the event three times so it is very special to have the opportunity once again,” said the 17-year-old.
“The stadium has always had a quick track to race on which, along with the crowd roaring you on, leads to really fast performances and great racing, so I’m sure it’ll be a great couple of days of athletics.”
Whitehead will run in the men’s T61 200m, a distance where he clocked a best of 23.01 in 2017, while Clegg, who missed last summer’s World Para Athletics Championships through injury, and guide runner Chris Clarke will race in the women’s T11 200m.
British Athletics’ Major Events Director, Cherry Alexander said:
“Last summer’s World Para Athletics Championships were ground breaking in so many ways, and we are delighted to welcome four of the biggest names in the sport to the Muller Anniversary Games in July.
“No one hosts para athletics like we do in the UK as we showed with record crowds over ten days of action last summer. It was a memorable championship for athletes, fans and all those who worked and volunteered at the event.
“British Athletics is committed to integrating world-class para athletics events alongside the Diamond League programme once again and I’m very proud that we are continuing a tradition from the very first Anniversary Games back in 2013."
Para Athletics events at the Muller Anniversary Games are split as follows:
- Saturday 21st July: T61 Men’s 200m and T11 Women’s 200m
- Sunday 22nd July: T34 Women’s 100m and T37/38 Women’s 200m
More events to be confirmed soon. The event takes place over two days at the London Stadium on 21-22 July 2018. Find out more on the British Athletics' website.