Aled Davies, Great Britain’s 2012 Paralympic gold medalist in discus and bronze medalist in shot put, set a Paralympic shot put world record on May 4 by throwing 14.68 meters (48.16 feet) at the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championships in Bedford, England, breaking his own 2012 record by 12 centimeters (4.72 inches). Davies, 21, a student at Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, has congenital hemimelia of his right leg. He competes in the F42 field sport category, based on his age, weight, and disability, and uses a 6km (13.23 lb) shot put.
“I felt good and the team morale was great and surprisingly I’ve pulled this distance out at the start of the season,” said Davies, who went on to take the gold medal in the men’s discus final. The opportunity for disabled athletes to come along to these events, be part of a team environment, and compete alongside other athletes, able bodied or not, is absolutely invaluable and essential to the growth of disability athletics. To win a Paralympic medal in front of the world is a very special feeling, but you cannot get to that point without coming to events such as these and putting in a performance.”
