KYRON Duke has made himself favourite for gold in the F41 shot put at this year’s World Para Athletics Championships after setting a new world record in Germany.
Two-time Paralympian Duke threw 14.19m at the Bayer Invitational in Leverkusen, beating the previous best of 14.11m thrown by Germany’s Niko Kappel only three weeks earlier.
Not to be outdone, Duke’s fellow Gwent athlete, Caldicot’s Kirsty Taylor, 19, also set a new world mark in the T44 long jump of 4.52m.
Duke, 26, has never won a gold medal at a major championship, with a collection of world and European silvers and bronzes across shot put and javelin.
However, his scintillating form – he threw an unofficial world record of 14.53m in April – now means that could all change in the UAE in November, when Duke will be taking on the best in the world.
Reacting to his effort in Germany, he said: “It’s amazing. I’ve known I’ve been able to do it for a long time.
“It’s just to get it ratified now and it will be there for everyone to see, and a good start to go into the Worlds in November.
“I know what I can do, I know my plan with all my coaches, we’ve just got to get everything right for the day.”
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