20 August 2011

World Champion Nathan Stephens (coach: Anthony Hughes) has broken the F57 javelin World Record with a best distance of 41.37m at the Czech Athletics Open in Olomouc today (Saturday 20 August).

After an outstanding start to 2011 with victory at the IPC Athletics World Championships in New Zealand in January, Stephens peaked for the second time this year with his first ever throw in excess of 40m in the fifth round of his series.

“I really came out to throw 40m, so Anthony (his coach Anthony Hughes) didn’t believe me when I told him,” said Stephens, who recorded his previous lifetime best of 39.80m three weeks ago at Stoke Mandeville. “Anthony actually missed it because he couldn’t see where it landed and he thought I was lying.

“Obviously we targeted the World title in New Zealand but we wanted to peak at this time too; this is when I need to peak for the Paralympic Games in London next year and we wanted to replicate that process so we altered my training.

“I actually went out a bit angry today, because the guy I came out to compete against (2011 world number two Rostislav Pohlmann of the Czech Republic) didn’t turn up and that was the main reason we came over here; I wanted to beat him in his home country.

“In the end it made no difference – the wind was in the right direction and the conditions were perfect, but I know I’ve still got a lot to give and I can still throw further.”