Athletics team announced for IPC Athletics World Champs

29 May, 2013

Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) and Athletics New Zealand (ANZ) are thrilled to announce the team for the IPC Athletics World Championships to be held in Lyon, France from 19 – 28 July.

Two athletes have been selected.  Holly Robinson competed at the London 2012 Paralympic Games in the F46 Women’s Javelin and placed 7th at her first ever Paralympic Games.  She will take this experience to Lyon and hope to build on this success.  Holly is 18 years old and resides in Dunedin.

Rory McSweeney is 27 years old and also resides in Dunedin.  He competed for New Zealand at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championship which were held in Christchurch where he finished 8th in the F44 Javelin.  Rory is looking to improve on this at the 2013 event.  Both athletes are coached by experienced Paralympic coach Raylene Bates.

Malcolm Humm (High Performance Director, PNZ) says, “both PNZ and ANZ we are excited about the selection of these two athletes to attend the World Champs in Lyon,” he continues, “competing at international events such as these are vital on our road to Rio.”

Athletics New Zealand High Performance Director, Scott Goodman said “Both Holly and Rory are experienced international athletes and we are expecting top performances from both of them on their path to the Rio 2016 Paralympics”.

The event will include approximately 1,300 athletes from 90 countries and will be the first major gathering of international track and field stars following the hugely successful London 2012 Paralympic Games. The majority of medal winners from London will be competing in Lyon as they start their preparations for the next Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.

IPC Athletics World Champs team :
Rory McSweeney (Dunedin)
F44 Men’s Javelin
Holly Robinson (Dunedin)
F46 Women’s Javelin

Raylene Bates (Dunedin)
Team Leader