The men's sprinting races look set to be among the most exciting and competitive events taking place in the French city, with many athletes battling out for titles following last summer's Paralympics and the previous World Championships in Christchurch in 2011.

Britain's Jonnie Peacock will be looking to add the world title to his T44 100 metres Paralympic gold when he faces the men who finished on the podium with him in London - American Richard Browne and South Africa's Arnu Fourie.

The 20-year-old, who finished sixth in the final in the New Zealand city, will also be up against American Jerome Singleton who will be looking to defend the world title he won there two years ago.

Yohansson Nascimento from Brazil is another who will be defending a world title, in the T46 100m, as well as aiming for gold in the 200m where he won silver last time.

Another former world champion, Jason Smyth from Ireland, will be eager to reclaim the T13 sprint titles he secured in Assen in 2006 having missed the 2011 championships due to injury.


Smyth, 26, claimed gold in the 100m and 200m races at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and holds the world record in both events.

One of the most eagerly awaited events is the showdown between Germany's Heinrich Popow and Australian Scott Reardon in the T42 sprints.

Reardon, who finished behind Popow in the 100m at London 2012, equalled the world record of 12.14secs back in April at the Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney, only to see the 29-year-old German and Paralympic gold medallist better that time by 0.03 at an event in Leverkusen last weekend.

Paralympic 200m champion Alan Oliveira also set a new world record in Germany recently, running a time of 10.77 in the 100m T43 and he is expected to be vying with US champion Blake Leeper and Germany's David Behre for the medal positions.

American Raymond Martin will compete in no fewer than five events in the T52 category, as he looks to add to his impressive haul of four Paralympic golds at London 2012.


Briton David Weir is not competing at this year's World Championships, and the Paralympic champion's absence will increase the chances of success for Switzerland's Marcel Hug in the T54 category, who is expected to face his biggest challenge in the form of France's Julien Casoli.

Reigning world champion Odair Santos from Brazil and Chile's Paralympic champion Cristian Valenzuela will be the main contenders in the T11 5,000m.

In the women's sprint events, Oliveira's compatriot Terezinha Guilhermina will be looking to defend the four titles she secured in Christchurch and the double Paralympic gold medallist is expected to face stiff competition from fellow Brazilians Jerusa Santos and Jhulia Santos.

Another woman looking to defend her world titles is the US' Tatyana McFadden.

The 24-year-old won gold in the T54 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m two years ago and has also entered a further two events in Lyon this year.

The Netherland's T44 100m world record holder Marlou van Rhijn will be hoping to continue her good form as she goes up against home favourite and Paralympic champion Marie-Amélie Le Fur, who just pipped the Dutchwoman for gold at London 2012.


Another London 2012 rivalry will be renewed in the T52 sprints when Belgium's Marieke Vervoort and Canada's Michelle Stilwell battle it out in the 100m and 200m.

The Belgian took the 100m crown in London, while Stillwell claimed the 200m gold.

Britain's Hannah Cockroft is expected to be the main contender in the T34 events, as the 20-year-old double Paralympic and world champion holds the world records in the 100m, 200m, 400m and the 800m.

The IPC Athletics World Championships run from July 19 until July 28, with over 1,100 athletes from 98 countries expected to compete.

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