Austin
Smeenk

As the world record holder, Austin Smeenk had a target on his back at the 2024 Paralympic Games. He made sure that’s all his opponents saw on that Saturday morning as he won the gold medal in the men’s T34 800-metre wheelchair race.

At his third Paralympics, it was Smeenk’s first career gold medal and second at those Games. He was third earlier in the 100-metre event.

A national team member for over a decade, Smeenk is an athlete who has paid his dues to get to the podium at the Paralympic Games. He didn’t win a medal in 2016 and 2020 and earned his first world championship medals last year with silver in the 100 and bronze in the 400.

Leading into the Paris Games, he was having the best season of his career. In June at a Grand Prix in Paris, Smeenk broke the world record in the T34 400m clocking 48.06 seconds and the 800m with a 1:35.59.

He made his Paralympic debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he made two finals in the 100m (6th) and 800m (8th).

In 2012, despite qualifying, he decided skip the Paralympics because he didn’t feel ready (he was 15). He entered his first world championships in 2013 and by 2017 he was starting to post top five results internationally.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2016, 2020, 2024 Paralympic Games… 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2025 IPC World Championships

PERSONAL

Born with spastic paraplegia, a hereditary disease that causes progressive stiffness and contraction in the lower limbs. He’s able to walk short distances, ride a bicycle to go further distances and stand-up snowboard…  He has participated in many other sports, including sailing and sledge hockey…  Electromechanical engineering technology student…

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

• 2025 World Championships 400m 3^rd
• 2025 World Championships 800m 3^rd
• 2024 Paralympic Games 800m 1^st
• 2024 Paralympic Games 100m 3^rd
• 2023 World Championships 100m 2nd
• 2023 World Championships 400m 3rd
• 2020 Paralympic Games 800m 5th
• 2020 Paralympic Games 100m 7th
• 2019 IPC World Championships 800m 4th
• 2019 IPC World Championships 100m 5th
• 2019 IPC World Championships 400m 5th
• 2018 Swiss Grand Prix 100m 2nd
• 2018 Swiss Grand Prix 200m 3rd
• 2017 IPC World Championships 100m 4th
• 2017 IPC World Championships 200m 5th
• 2017 IPC World Championships 400m 6th
• 2017 IPC World Championships 800m 8th
• 2016 Paralympic Games 100m 6th
• 2016 Paralympic Games 800m 8th
• 2015 IPC World Championships 400m 11th
• 2013 IPC World Championships 100m 8th
• 2013 IPC World Championships 200m 7th
• 2013 IPC World Championships 400m 6th
• 2013 IPC World Championships 800m 8th