Paul Blake gives GB a dream start at Dubai 2019 World Para-Athletics Champs by winning third 800m gold of his career
University of Bath-based Paul Blake stormed to the fourth World Para-Athletics Championships gold medal of his career in Dubai on Thursday – and hailed it as his best yet.
Blake, coached by Rob Ellchuk, controlled his T36 800m final from start to finish as he finished eight seconds clear of the field in a season’s best time of 2:07.44 to claim Great Britain’s first gold on the opening day of the 2019 championships.
It was his third success over the distance, emulating his victories in 2013 and 2015, and Blake said: “I think this is the best one. The way the last two years have panned out, this is really special. To execute the race exactly as I wanted to and to win the gold, I’m really pleased with myself.
“It’s amazing to be the first gold medallist of the champs for Great Britain and hopefully this will spur on the rest of the team to deliver great performances.”
Watch highlights of the opening day here:
Blake – who was inducted into the University of Bath Hall of Fame for Sport in 2017 – will be looking to add to his medal collection next week in the T36 400m, the event in which he won his first World title back in 2011 and is the reigning Paralympic Games champion.
Sophie Kamlish, who is also coached by Ellchuk, is competing in the T64 100m in Dubai. She broke the world record on the way to winning the T44 100m title when London hosted the last World Championships in 2017.
Click here to find out more about athletics at the University of Bath Sports Training Village.
