A disabled athlete outclassing a physically able runner in an international event is something that is unheard of. But, when it happens, history is scripted.
On Monday night, the ongoing Paralympic 1,500m final witnessed a stunning outcome in Rio as the top four finishers achieved quicker times than the Olympic Games gold medallist.
Algeria’s Abdellatif Baka claimed victory in the T13 1,500m – but incredibly the first four athletes were all faster than American Matthew Centrowitz who won gold at the Olympics last month.
Baka set a world record of 3mins 48.29secs for victory, more than 1.7 seconds faster than Centrowitz.
Baka crossed the line in a time of three minutes and 48.29 seconds to win gold, with American Olympic champion Centrowicz only managing three minutes and 50.00 seconds at the Olympic Games last month.
The feat was made all the more stunning given the fact that the second, third and fourth-placed finishers all recorded times faster than Centrowicz, meaning that four Paralympic athletes had run times fast enough to win gold had they competed in the Olympic Games.
“It wasn’t easy to get this gold medal,” Baka said after winning Paralympic gold. “I’ve been working one or two years non-stop and it’s been very, very hard for me.”
