No one was going to beat Anthony Bouchard today.
Bouchard made history on route to his T52 100 metres title at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships today, crossing the line in a time of 16.95 seconds.
“I followed the plan I had this morning. We worked on mental preparation, and she really told me to race my own race. I shut myself off. I didn’t focus on what was happening around me. Then I raced my race,” the newly-minted world champion said. “I couldn’t really leave out any details. I knew that I was getting faster and faster, but so were they.”
Bouchard powered into the final in this morning’s session, with a new season’s best, personal best, and World Para Athletics Championships record time of 16.78 seconds.
“To be honest, I knew I had that in me. But with all the conditions we have here, the heat, the air pollution, I had some doubts. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I’m really, really happy with the result, but I couldn’t let my performance in the morning give me too much confidence,” Bouchard said.
Smeenk Moves On
Austin Smeenk booked his spot in tomorrow’s men’s T34 800 metres final in convincing fashion, winning his heat with a time of 1:41.45.
“Nobody really wanted to go out and take the lead off of it, nor did I. Then trouble started to accumulate, and I’ve been getting used to driving in real close quarters here in India. So I figured if I’m comfortable in chaos. You’ve got to be comfortable in close space,” Smeenk said.
The defending Paralympic champion and current world record holder in this event lines up for the final in tomorrow’s morning session.
Sunday at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships
The big finale is upon us. There is only one day of competition left at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, and Team Canada will be front and centre.
Team Canada has already earned 6 medals (2 gold, 4 bronze) this week, with even more chances for podium results on Sunday.
Austin Smeenk is the first Canadian up, looking to repeat his Paris 2024 Paralympic gold medal performance at Worlds.
The 200 metre duo of Sheriauna Haase and Chloe Dunbar will race in the semis Sunday morning and potentially in the final Sunday evening.
Renee Foessel looks to keep Canada’s success in the throwing events going, as she steps into the ring in the women’s F38 discus final.
Nate Tucker and Liam Stanley will be part of a fast field in the men’s T38 1500 metres final.
Marissa Papaconstantinou will be the last Canadian to compete, as she lines up in the women’s T64 200 metres, after her bronze in the 100 metres earlier this week.
Keep Up With Team Canada
For all things Team Canada at the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, bookmark our WPA Championships Headquarters. That’s your home for results, schedules, bios and news.
Stream all the action live on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
Check out CBC Sports’ full stream schedule here.
