“A STAR is born,” proclaimed the British press as Diamond Beach’s James Turner scored a brilliant win in the men’s 200 metre (T36) final in world record time at the World Para Athletics Championships in London on Tuesday morning Australian time.
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“Turner makes it look easy – absolutely dominant,’’ the report continued.
Turner clocked 24.09 to win the gold medal from Krzystof Ciukza from Poland with Da Silva Parreira from Brazil third. Ciukza’s time was 25.04 while Parreira was across the line in 25.19.
Turner broke his own world record of 24.15 set the day before when comfortably winning his heat to move through to the final.
He will also contest the 400 metres and 800 metres in London, the events to be held later this week.
Last year Turner won the T36 men’s 800 metre final at the Rio Paralymic Games in world record time. He was later named Paralympic rookie of the year and received an OAM in the Australia Day honours for services the sport. He was the Australia Day ambassador at the Black Head celebrations this year.
Turner, 21, was also a member of the Australian Pararoos – the team for players with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders, including stroke and traumatic brain injuries. He was in England with the side two years ago when he was approached to trial for the Australian team to contest the Rio Paralympics.