Sabrina Fortune Crushes Rivals, Become World Champion for the Fourth Time, But Insists: “I Can’t Believe it!”

At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, the north Wales athlete delivered in spectacular style – obliterating her existing mark by exactly one metre.

The remarkable first round throw of 16.75m also secured Fortune a fourth world title as she finished almost three metres clear of her nearest rival.

In the run up to the championships, Fortune also spoke of her desire to raise awareness for people living with hidden disabilities.

The 28-year-old was successful on all fronts as she captured the imagination of one of the largest crowds of these championships so far.

Following her latest triumph, Fortune said: “I’m over the moon. I’m so, so happy and honestly can’t believe it.

“I wasn’t expecting that far – I wanted 16m and I wanted to push towards LA (the 2028 Paralympics) where I’d hopefully hit a 17m, but this pushes our plan off quite a bit!

“It’s just trusting yourself in that moment, knowing what you are and trusting the process. If you don’t trust your body and your ability, you’re never going to do it.

“The last few weeks I have been throwing really well, I have thrown 16.20/16.40 – so I was expecting something, but I wasn’t expecting that much. My coach only wanted 16m so I may have gone over quite a bit!”

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The previous day, wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft had questioned the hosting of the championships in India after winning 400m gold in front of a near-empty 60,000 capacity stadium.

Cockfroft added: "I just hope that the message is going out to the people of India that this event is happening."

There was some evidence of an increase in attendance for Monday’s evening session, which included Fortune’s final.

A boisterous crowd situated in one corner of the stadium got behind the athletes, prompting Fortune to say afterwards: “The loud noises, the drums – everything was incredible. It was truly something amazing.

“I’d love for this to make Indian children with a disability go: ‘look at that, they can do it and that’s incredible.’ I hope they can push for more athletes to come forward – we don’t have enough, and India is an incredible country.

“I’m a role model – I have to stand there, be proud and show off what Great Britain is and what someone with a learning disability can do. I am the next person for that generation to see.

The MBE recipient is patron for organisations such as STAND North Wales CIC, which represents people with speech, language and communication needs and disabilities.

Before the championships, Fortune said: “As someone who has a learning disability, it’s so hard to see people not understand what you have.

“I’m not missing a limb, I’m not blind. There are some things that you physically can’t see.

“I want to do it for the next generation. I struggled a lot with people not knowing. But I don’t want that for the next generation.

“Some people are incredible. But they are just hidden, they are in the shadow of someone else. I really want to bring them out and show them that the world has so much more.”

Monday’s morning session had seen two other Welsh throwers competing in the F44 discus – Cardiff Athletics clubmates and training partners Funmi Oduwaiye and Bree Cronin, who was making her Great Britain debut.

Oduwaiye, who represented GB at last year’s Paris Paralympics, threw consistently throughout the competition, but narrowly missed out on a medal with a best distance of 37.91m to finish fourth – one place ahead of Cronin.

The former Welsh international basketball player said afterwards: “I am content, not pleased but content. The aim was to go out there, win and get medals.

“But me and Bree both did really well, especially Bree on her first major comp to come fifth that is an achievement in itself.

Oduwaiye, who said the competitors had to contend with warm conditions in the stadium, added: “Every competition I am hoping to get a PB.

“I am not a 40m thrower yet, in competition, but hopefully by the time I finish my career, I will be well over that.”

Oduwaiye will compete again in the F44 shot put on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Cronin’s best throw of 37.69m came in the penultimate round after she admitted to having made a nervous start.

Cronin said: “It wasn’t too bad for my first international – I’m pretty content with that. I’ve learned a lot – it’s a big stage. I’m only used to national level so this is a lot bigger than normal.

“I was okay going into it but when I stepped into the circle my legs were like jelly!

“It was a different vibe in the circle – I left it a bit too late but after a few throws it was okay, I enjoyed it and I wasn’t so nervous.

Bree Cronin and Funmi Oduwaiye at this year's UK Athletics Championships in Birmingham.