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World gold triple for Loughborough College athletes celebrated as Britain launches bid to bring Championships back to London

Posted: 25th July 2017 - 7:56pm
World gold triple for Loughborough College athletes celebrated as Britain launches bid to bring Championships back to London

Loughborough College athletes Sophie Hahn MBE, Olivia Breen and Julie Rogers have helped make the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships Great Britain’s most successful this century.

Hahn set two world records on her way to gold in both the T38 100m and 200m and Breen achieved a personal best to win gold in the T38 long jump and was just pipped to third in the T38 100m while Rogers came sixth in the T42 100m – and as celebrations continue, Britain has announced it will launch an official bid to bring the Championships back to London in 2019.

With Team GB far exceeding the UK Sport 26-30 target with 18 golds, eight silvers and 13 bronze to finish third in the medal table and remarkable crowds at this month’s London Championships, the hope is that the International Paralympic Committee will favour a return to Britain in two year’s time.

Paralympic head coach Paula Dunn said: "The public have seen our guys shining. We know what our goals are - we know some of our athletes are going to the Commonwealth Games and the Europeans next year and if the Worlds are here in 2019 it'll be a bonus.”

Ed Warner, the co-chair of the London 2017 organisers, added: “This gives all athletes from around the world time to fulfil their preparations for Tokyo 2020. If we look at the benefits for London, the Paralympic movement and UK Athletics, you'd need to have a heart of ice not to want to do it.”

Loughborough College Sport student Hahn took the T38 100m title on her Paralympic debut in Rio and received an MBE earlier this year for services to athletics.

The 20 year old, who has cerebral palsy, arrived in London having already beaten the T38 world records in both the 100m and 200m this season.

After winning a record-breaking T38 100m gold on her senior international debut at the 2013 World Championships and retaining the title two years later, Hahn shattered her own world record to take her third consecutive world 100m gold at the London stadium.

As Hahn crossed the line she looked at the scoreboard and punched the air. “I just caught a glimpse of the clock and saw 12.44. I was absolutely over the moon. I think this is the biggest run I’ve ever performed. It felt amazing and the crowd here really moved me along.”

Amongst Hahn’s medal haul before London were two world 200m silvers plus several European and relay medals – including Paralympic silver from Brazil 2016. The 200m win at this month’s championships was Hahn’s first world title in the event and once again saw her smash the world record.

Loughborough College student Olivia Breen, who has cerebral palsy, was part of the medal-winning relay team at the London 2012 Paralympic Games at 16 years old and is the European 100m champion.

On her way to the T38 long jump win at the London Championships Breen improved on her lifetime best three times. It was the first individual global gold of her career.

“That means so much to me,” said Breen. “I’ve been in the sport now for six years and there have been a lot of ups and downs. I can’t express how I’m feeling, it’s just amazing. I knew it was in me and it came, I’m so happy.”

Pictured: Loughborough College student Sophie Hahn after smashing the world record to win gold in the T38 100m at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships