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Posted: 2024-09-07 14:21:53

Australian Paralympic champion James Turner has overcome a sickness-riddled year to claim the gold medal that escaped him in Tokyo.

Turner surged home to win the men's 100m T36 at the Stade de France on day 10 in Paris, adding to the 400m T36 crown he won earlier at the Paralympics. 

It was a sweet moment for the Australian who claimed silver in the 100m T36 final three years earlier in Tokyo, after a self-described bad start ruined his chance of winning. 

But redemption for Turner seemed out of the question earlier in the year when the para athlete suffered glandular fever.

Speaking to ABC Sport after securing the 100m T36 title, the Australian para athlete champion said he thought his Paris dreams may not be realised while he was ill.

"There were days where I could barely walk, I was stumbling, I could barely talk," he said.

"For a little bit, I was even thinking I might not even make the Games."

But Turner heaped praise on his coach Iryna Dvoskina who he credits with giving him the chance to compete in Paris and add two more gold medals to his collection. 

"Iryna has given me words of support — she's given me notes telling me how much work we've done and that even though I've been sick, two months of sickness will not get rid of seven years of hard, gruelling work,' he said.

"I think that's what got me over the line."

Turner had to fight until the very end to claim the 100m T36 crown, with barely anything separating the three medallists. 

Any one of five athletes looked like they could win gold with 30m left, but Turner had the fastest closing speed to power his way to victory. 

"I stuffed up my race at the last Paralympics and came back with the silver," he said.

"There's been so much work put into me by my coach, the AIS … and to come back with the gold means the world to me."

Turner was not the only Australian to medal at the Stade de France on day 10, with Rheed McCracken winning bronze in the men's 800m T34.

"I knew I had done enough work, but I put a lot into the 100m, and I was on the other side of it, fourth, and did not race the race I really wanted," McCracken said.

"So this one, I just went out there and relaxed and thought to myself, 'these guys are going to go quick'.

"But I am leaving with a medal and how exciting is that?

"The calibre of the sport is so elite. The way these guys have been pushing is why this was unexpected for me."

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