Looking at Lyon: Men’s 200m T43
18.07.2013Will Brazil’s Alan Fonteles Oliveira be able to squeak by the USA’s Blake Leeper for gold at the IPC Athletics World Championships?
Brazilian Oliveira and American Leeper's rivalry will be one to watch carefully in the coming years ahead of Rio 2016.
© • IPC
Gold medalist Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira poses on the track after the Men's 200m T44 at the London 2012 Paralympics
© • Getty Images
Blake Leeper of the United States lines up on the starting blocks prior to the Men's 400m T44 heats at the London Paralympics
© • Getty Images
Oliveira and Leeper are just 20 and 23 years old respectively, and have large futures ahead of them. We could see the beginning of the prime of their careers in Lyon.
When to watch: Final: 18:40 on 21 July
What happened last time: In the combined T43/44 event at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships, South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius won gold, the USA’s Jerome Singleton took silver and another South African, Arnu Fourie, claimed bronze.
World-record holder: Pistorius set the current world-best mark of 21.30 in the distance at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Who to watch: Are you ready for a showdown between Brazil’s Paralympic champion Alan Fonteles Oliveira and the USA’s Blake Leeper? The pair is expected to go head-to-head right until the finish line, while podium places could also be contested by German David Behre and American Josh Kennison.
Why you should watch: Oliveira and Leeper are just 20 and 23 years old respectively, and have large futures ahead of them. We could see the beginning of the prime of their careers in Lyon, and both have outgoing personalities that are easily showcased in the media. What makes Lyon 2013 even more interesting is that for the first time in years the men’s T43 and T44 classes will be split into two separate events.
