Arnold and Broom-Edwards shine bright with gold in Dubai

Hollie Arnold has set her sights on breaking the F46 javelin world record in Tokyo next year after she claimed her fourth consecutive World Para Athletics Championships gold in Dubai.

The 25-year-old, who also finished on the top step of the podium in 2013, 2015 and 2017, threw a huge 44.73 metres with her third attempt – which is a new personal best, championship record and area record.

The feat capped a sensational day for the Brits in which Jonathan Broom-Edwards also won gold in the T64 high jump on his return to the British team.

There was also triple silver success for Thomas Young, who was pipped to first place by mere thousandths of a second, Kadeena Cox and Jo Butterfield.

“That’s what I wanted to do and I had a really good series as well. Obviously, I really wanted that world record, but that’s where Tokyo is going to come into it and I can’t wait for that.

“It’s amazing. I’ve effectively won four times in a row for my event and I’m so, so happy. It’s not just about me, it’s about my team around me.

“My coach Dave Turner has put so much work into this. He’s had to deal with the happy Hollie, the sad Hollie and the angry Hollie.

“Title number four is just as special as title number one. It’s really hard when you come here as the defending champion, but I’m just so happy it’s over now and I can’t wait to get on that podium and get my gold medal.”

Broom-Edwards made the golden day even better for GB as he made it a fairy tale return from injury by winning the T64 high jump.

After his amazing 2.02 metres final round effort blew the competition away, the 31-year-old emotionally celebrated a success he admitted was a long time in the making.

He said: “There are just so many different emotions flowing through me today. I don’t know if I’m going to sleep tonight, it’s been a long time coming and it’s been a hard 18 months, but I made it.

“It definitely gives me some relief. It has been a hard 18 months. The injury itself set me back massively and coming into the last six months, I’ve had a bit of a knee issue as well, so nursing these and being able to get out here is great.

“It’s a proud moment to achieve what I have achieved definitely. I will probably end up crying on the podium I’m sure, but it’s a stepping stone to the main event which is Tokyo next year.”

It could have been three gold medals for GB on the day but for a remarkable photo finish as Young was beaten into second in the T38 100m by China’s Zhu Dening.

After setting a new European record in the heats, Young again broke it in the final as he finished in a time of 11 seconds – beaten by a few thousandths of a second by Dening who also finished in 11.00.

Young said: “It’s a European record again and a PB again and you can’t do much more than that really other than win gold. I’m slightly disappointed but I know that I have lots to work on as we head towards Tokyo.

“I came off the track thinking ‘could I have it’, but I had a feeling it was [Zhu] Dening and it was him. I gave it all on the track as I said and I’m definitely happy.”

In the T38 400m, there was another near miss as Cox finished 0.12 seconds behind Russia’s Margarita Goncharova to secure silver while Ali Smith finished fourth.

Despite obvious disappointment, Cox was content given it is her first major athletics championships since 2017 and admitted she will get better with race practice.

“It’s so nice to be back on the podium,” Cox said. “With everything I’ve struggled with over the past two years, just to be back at these Championships is amazing.

“As frustrating as it is, I’ve got a silver so I can’t be unhappy with my Championships and winning a medal, it’s just not my preferred colour.

“I didn’t go out as hard as I should have. I think I was watching the race in front of me too much, paying too much attention to what they were doing rather than watching my own race.”

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Butterfield also celebrated his first world medal since 2015 with F51 club throw silver.

The 2015 world champion registered a best effort of 21.67 metres to extend GB’s medal haul.