Hungarian para athlete Luca Ekler stole the show at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. On Wednesday at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the 26-year-old smashed a new world record in the women’s long jump T38 final and still had enough energy to qualify for the 200m T38 final—all in just a couple of hours.
Ekler leaped 5.91 meters on her second attempt, beating her own previous mark and setting a fresh world record in women’s long jump T38. She did it again later in the competition, showing why she’s a two-time Paralympic gold medalist in the event and the 2023 Paris World Championships winner. Despite advice to skip the trip to India, she arrived ready to shine. “This is my best competition of the year and my best performance in the last three years,” Ekler said with a big smile. “It feels like all the pieces of the puzzle are coming together. The warm weather here helped a lot—it was great for my body, and I didn’t even need to warm up much. The stadium atmosphere boosted me too. I’ve trained hard for eight years, and every year has built on the last.”
Ekler, who suffered a stroke at age 10 that left her paralyzed on her left side, has made the most of her time in India. “People here are so kind—that’s the best part of these championships for me,” she added. “My experience has been amazing so far. I just wish I had time for some sightseeing amid all the events.”
Not missing a beat, Ekler jumped into the 200m T38 Round 1 Heat 2 about an hour after her long jump. She finished third to book her spot in the final, looking strong and unfazed. When reporters asked if she aimed for first, she laughed it off: “No, I just wanted to qualify. I was tired from the long jump, so that was enough.”
Beyond the track, Ekler works to raise awareness about para sports back in Hungary. “It’s improving year by year,” she said. “Spreading the word is my mission, and I’m proud of the progress.” Her double-duty performance highlights why stars like Ekler inspire the para athletics world.
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