Disability Sport Wales
Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru
The Federation of Disability Sport Wales (FDSW) is a pan-disability National Governing Body of Sport Which aims to promote and develop quality sports opportunities
DAN HAS THE BEST OF LUCK IN WORLD GAMES
Wheelchair Racer Daniel Lucker, from Abergavenny, returned laden with medals from the IWAS Junior World Championships held in New Jersey, USA.
Lucker, a member of the Disability Sports Wales Academy programme, went to the US following a great years competition which included winning the Junior London Marathon wheelchair race. Out of 6 races he brought back 5 medals, 1 Gold & 4 Silver. He would have had another to his haul had the organisers not combined the age groups for the 5000m.
The 15 year old, competed in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m & 5000m. He triumphed in the 1500m, and won silver in the shorter distances. In the 5000m, the organisers combined two age groups, the Under 18 & Under 16’s – however he finished 4th only 0.07seconds behind 3rd place, with the top 3 competing in the Under 18 age group.
This all means that Dan is World Champion in the U16 1500m & 5000m, 4th in the World in the 5000m in the U18, and ranked 2nd in the World in the 100m, 200m, 400m & 800m U16 events.
Dan was supported at the event by his Mother, Karen, after his Coach, Chris Hallam couldn’t attend due to an injury. Karen Lucker said:‘It was disappointing for Dan not to win the 5000m outright, but overall he is really pleased with how it’s all gone. It was a well-organised event, and gives us a pointer to where his training needs to go. We knew that the Americans and Canadians would be strong in the event, and Dan was only beaten by a Canadian who is a year older than him’.
Gerwyn Owen, Disability Sport Wales Academy Manager said:‘What a great set of results by Dan, I believe that Daniel is starting to make a mark not just nationally but internationally. We’ve always been strong in Wheelchair Racing, with Chris Hallam and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson leading the way in Wales. At only 15 years old he is already setting the bar higher and higher each time he’s racing. Credit must be given to his Coaching Team, Chris Hallam of course, but also his Mum, Karen, who supports him in every training and competition session. Dan has been involved within the Academy over the last few years, and shows that the programme is their ultimately to produce future paralympians, and who knows, Dan might succeeds Tanni’s medal haul of 11 Paralympic Gold Medals in the future?’
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