Kiwi sprinter Danielle Aitchison has blitzed the field to win gold in the women's 200m T36 at the para athletics world championships in Paris on Sunday (NZ time).
The 21-year-old crossed the line in a time of 25.5s to set a new Oceania record - wiping 0.48s from her own mark set at the 2019 world championships in Dubai.
Aitchison finished 1.6s clear of her closest rival, Australia’s Mali Lovell, with German Nicole Nicoleitzik following to take bronze.
The result adds another medal to the Hamilton-based athlete's haul, after she'd claimed silver in the 100m T36 earlier in the competition.
"I am feeling so happy with my 200m, it was amazing," said Aitchison. "I had no idea where any of the girls were, I just had to keep running my own race until I got past that finish line."
"I didn't think I would run that fast. I was actually a bit tired today, so I took on a technical approach to get my arms and pelvis to tilt to cross that ground, which is exactly what I did."
Aitchison's achievement continues New Zealand's strong showing at the world champs, adding a second gold medal alongside the one shot-putter Lisa Adams won on Tuesday.
After the race, Aitchison immediately embraced her mum trackside, admitting she "couldn't get a word in."
"She was beside herself crying saying how proud she was and how much she loves me," she said.
Aitchison said her double-medal haul had given her a huge shot of self-belief leading into next year's Paralympics in Paris.
"It has made me feel confident I'm on that right pathway. It also gives me the confidence that I can win gold medals - it is a booster."
Later on Sunday, New Zealand will be in the hunt for more medals, when Paralympic champion Anna Grimaldi competes in the women's long jump T47 final, where she'll try to add to the bronze medal she won in the women's 100m T47 final.
