Brilliant bronze in New Delhi! Melanie savours her first World Para Champs podium moment

Monday 29th September 2025

Photo via British Athletics, Marcus Hartman

Melanie Woods has won the first World Para championship medal of her career in new Delhi.

The Scot is representing GB and NI in a number of track events at the championships in India this week.

And Mel came up with a fine performance to take bronze in the T54 Women’s 800m final in 1:49.59 in an exciting and tactical race.

Four athletes were in the hunt for the medals from the bell and, after moving from fourth to second, Mel came home in third – and only 12 hundredths of a second away from the silver.

Belgian Lea Bayekula won the gold and China’s Zhaoqian Zhou took silver.

It will be a precious podium moment for the Red Star AC athlete, who is coached by Rodger Harkins, after two sixth place finishes at the 2024 Paralympics.

Congratulations to Melanie, her family, coach Rodger and all at Red Star AC.

British Athletics website report

‘I’m absolutely buzzing – it’s great to be out there and be in the mix amongst those girls, who are great at what they do,’ she said in India.

‘To be up there and challenging them makes me feel proud. Year on year, consistency has grown – I’ve just been doing the same thing, but building on it every year, getting stronger in the gym, putting more work in and getting faster.

‘It’s just about me having had the patience to know that it will pay off at some point. I’m hoping this is the year it’s going to pay towards.’

Fellow Scots Finlay Menzies and Ben Sandilands will compete later this week in India. Finlay was in the T72 400m over the weekend but unfortunately was disqualified (after winning his heat with a big PB).