Blake strikes gold at World Champs
University of Bath-based athlete Paul Blake struck gold at the IPC Athletics World Championships in France this morning.
Blake added the T36 800m gold to the 400m title he won at the last World Championships in New Zealand two years ago.
He did it in style at Lyon 2013, running from the front to claim Britain’s fourth gold of the championships in a personal best and championship record of 2:06.10.
Blake, who is coached by Rob Ellchuk, said: “I was confident coming into the race – my aim obviously was to win gold like any other athlete, but it could have been any one of us. I was lucky to come through in the end and win it.
“My coach told me to go out pretty quickly because I knew I had the speed over 400m, it was just managing over the next lap and keep running,” he added.
“I run well off a quick pace, so I decided to take it out and try to hold on, which I did. It’s the hardest I’ve ever raced and the most difficult conditions I’ve ever had to work with. I’ve put a lot more work in the gym this season to help me with my finishing and it’s paid off here.”
Blake has a growing list of medals that include a T36 400m silver and an 800m bronze at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Training partners Ben Rushgrove and Katrina Hart go in the finals of the T36 100m and T37 200m later today.
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