Many of the stars from last year’s World Para Athletics Championships will be in action at this weekend’s Müller Anniversary Games, and Stef Reid (GBR), Luke Sinnott (GBR) and Regas Woods (USA) are looking forward to being back in the London Stadium.
The stadium holds special memories for Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s Stef Reid. The T44 athlete claimed silver in the F44 long jump at London 2012, before winning her maiden world title at last year’s World Para Athletics Championships.
Nearly a year later, Reid will be back competing in the women’s T44/47/64 long jump on Saturday.
Reid said: “It’s special every time you walk into the stadium. It’s great because spectators and athletes know that something special and big will happen. I have so many great memories and I love coming back to this stadium.”
It was nearly a dream international debut for Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s Luke Sinnott at last year’s World Para Athletics Championships. The former Army captain just missed out on a long jump medal, but he will be back this weekend swapping the sand for the track as he competes over 200m.
Sinnott said: “200 is not my usual discipline, but I have trained hard and it’s going to be exciting to compete on one of the best tracks in the world. I am looking forward to showing other double amputees that we can run and hopefully that will encourage more people to take up the sport.”
The USA’s Regas Woods will also compete in the men’s T61 200m on Saturday, which features double Paralympic champion and four-time world champion Richard Whitehead.
Woods said: “This stadium is THE stadium. London sets the bar high. The energy, the people, the athletes - I love it. I love coming to London. It feels like home. It’s always exciting to hear the crowd roar as you cross the line.”
Across the five Para events scheduled for the Müller Anniversary Games, there are 12 Paralympic and world medallists, with over 85 major international medals between them.
