COVENTRY Paralympian Kare Adenegan raced for the first time since the Paris Paralympic Games at the National Junior Para Athletics Championships in Coventry.
More than 100 young disabled athletes from across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland competed at the prestigious event.
The competition took place at Warwick University’s Coventry Athletics Track as five-time Paralympic silver medallist Adenegan starred on her return to action.
She picked up three gold medals in the 100m, 400m and 800m.
Adenegan said: “It’s really great to see the talent that’s coming through, it’s good to be able to encourage them and cheer them on.
“That’s what I really like about this event, it brings together those that have been around quite a while but also those that are coming through. It’s a great celebration of sport.
“Sadly, there’s not enough races for para-sport, so it’s really important to have an event on a good track, and also to have a variety of events for a variety of classifications. It’s an important part of the calendar for a lot of us.”
Activity Alliance hosted the event alongside England Athletics.
Activity Alliance CEO, Adam Blaze said: “We were thrilled to once again welcome athletes from across the UK for a fantastic event.
“Having seen the action first-hand, it shows exactly why accessible and inclusive opportunities are so important.
“The energy across both days was amazing. We celebrated not just those that won a medal, but everyone for taking part.
“We all should feel we belong in sports and activities, and the joy that was on show highlights exactly why we have to continue to break down barriers disabled people face when trying to be active.”
A young competitor, Paris, won five gold medals in what was the 11-year-old’s first major event.
Paris said: “I was very nervous at first.
“Then when I did my first race, I got the hang of it.
“My teammate gave me a pep talk, she said ‘don’t give up, you’ve got this’.”
Paris’s mum, Jaeda added: “Every time I come to something like this I just have my mind blown.
“It makes you realise why sport is so important.
“I have noticed a confidence boost in her [Paris], she’s got a lot more self-belief now.
“She’s just won her first race and I can see that she’s realising, ‘do you know what, this is something that I can achieve’.”
