Fearnley on top of the world

Days after winning his seventh consecutive Oz Day 10km, NSWIS wheelchair track & road athlete Kurt Fearnley has become the Institute’s latest world champion by winning the men’s T54 marathon at the 2011 IPC Athletics Championships in New Zealand.

Fearnley’s victory was nothing short of brilliant, clocking a time of one hour, 31 minutes and nine seconds, the same as Switzerland’s Heinz Frei, to be awarded gold after his wheel was slightly in front at the line. The top seven athletes in the race were separated by two seconds in what was one of the closest finals ever seen at a world championship.

However, Fearnley’s victory was shrouded in controversy as local organisers could not guarantee the closure of the course being used for the marathon, with reports of an athlete being injured after being struck by a reversing car. Two competitors, including gold medal hope David Weir of Great Britain, withdrew from the event.

The early season success gives Fearnley the perfect start to the year and a great way to begin the build up to the 2012 London Paralympic Games.