BRONZE MEDAL Alert - William Stedman Men's 400m T36

BRONZE MEDAL Alert - William Stedman Men's 400m T36

21 September 2016, 12:17PM
Paralympics New Zealand

The New Zealand Paralympic Team has pulled ahead of its overall target of 18 medals, after Paralympic debutant William Stedman stormed to a BRONZE in the Men’s 400m T36, in 55.69, just a hairs breath behind the silver medallist Roman Pavlyk (Ukraine) on 55.67. The gold medal was won by Paul Blake (Great Britain) in a time of 54.49. Notably, the race was so close at the line that the fourth placed Krzysztof Ciuksza (Poland) was only two tenths of second behind Stedman, on 55.97.
 
The 17-year-old runner from Christchurch is the youngest member of the Para-Athletics team competing at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, keeping company with the likes of gold and silver medallist Liam Malone (Men's 100m T44, Men's 200m T44, Men's 400m T44), gold medallist Anna Grimaldi (Women's Long Jump T47), silver medallist Holly Robinson (Women's Javelin F46) and bronze medallists Rory McSweeney (Men's Javelin F44) and Jessica Hamill (Women's Shot Put F34).
 
Stedman first entered the international scene last year, competing at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships. He made his international debut in 2015. Stedman achieved three top 10 finishes.
 
Stedman has a form of Cerebal Palsy and was inspired to get involved in Para-Athletics after travelling through London as a 13-year-old on a family holiday around the time of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. His parents fondly remember him watching the Games on TV and asking whether he could go to the Paralympics one day. He began training as soon as he returned to New Zealand.


 
Find William Stedman’s biography here.
 
The 31-strong New Zealand Paralympic Games Team will compete at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games between 8-19 September 2016 NZT, with a mighty global contingent of 4,350 other athletes from 160 countries. The Paralympics is the world’s largest multi-sport event for disabled athletes. New Zealand will contest six Para-Sports, chasing a target of 18 medals in total, including 12 gold medals.
 
Where can kiwis watch our Paralympians in action?
 
Views can catch the New Zealand Paralympic Team in action at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games by tuning into DUKE on Freeview 13, Sky 23 or online at www.tvnz.co.nz/duke (find daily schedule here: www.tvnz.co.nz/paralympics2016/schedule), by watching the daily highlights programme on TV1 at 9.30pm, or by visiting www.tvnz.co.nz/ondemand/paralympics or http://attitudelive.com/rio-2016-paralympics to watch on demand. Results will also be shown on ONE News, Breakfast and Seven Sharp.
 
In addition to this and as a result of huge public interest in New Zealand TVNZ has created a second live stream so you can choose between the coverage of DUKE or live Para-Swimming or Para-Athletics action:

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/ondemand/paralympics-swimming AND
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/ondemand/paralympics-athletics

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