Funchal (POR) embraces one community as Para World Championships comes to a close

Para athletes from across Europe and Africa enjoyed a memorable week of competition at the UIPM 2026 Para Biathle-Triathle and Para Laser Run World Championships in Funchal (POR), with several competitors demonstrating the versatility to compete for world titles across the three disciplines.

The championships showcased the strength and diversity of the Para sporting community, with close contests, outstanding individual performances and success for athletes from France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, South Africa and host nation Portugal.

Competition began with Para Biathle on October 27, when Aaron Putz (RSA) emerged victorious from a closely contested PMP7 race, overcoming the British duo of Joshua Cox and Owen Lee, who claimed silver and bronze respectively.

Michele Baldelli (ITA), competing with his guide in the PMP6 visually impaired category, secured gold, while Lena Schöllig-Steffan (GER) took the PMP5 title. Schöllig-Steffan (GER) had the distinction of becoming the first UIPM Para Sports athlete to compete in both able-bodied and disabled racing.

Experienced Para champions Omar Bouyoucef (FRA) and Hassiba Bouyoucef (FRA) continued their successful careers by winning the men's and women's PMP1 titles, with Rachel Massey (GBR) claiming a silver.

The British enjoyed further success through Mathew Dimbylow (PMP2) and Tom Ellis (PMP4), each of whom topped their class, with Bernie Manzoni (RSA) – a member of the UIPM Para Pentathlon Commission – taking PMP2 silver.

The focus then shifted to Para Triathle, where athletes tackled a 100m sea swim followed by three rounds of laser shooting and 300m running.

Cox (GBR) reversed the Biathle result in PMP7, producing an impressive winning time of 6:45.46 to finish ahead of Lee (GBR) and Putz (RSA).

Baldelli (ITA) added Triathle gold to his Biathle success, completing PMP6 in 7:23.40, while Schöllig-Steffan (GER) doubled her gold-medal tally with a winning time of 7:20.52 in PMP5.

The Bouyoucefs maintained France's dominance of the PMP1 categories, Omar securing men's gold in 10:58.54 and Hassiba winning the women's competition in 11:21.18, again ahead of Massey (GBR).

Dimbylow (GBR) and Ellis (GBR) also repeated their Biathle victories in PMP2 and PMP4 respectively, with Manzoni (RSA) taking another silver in PMP2. Anna Maria Mencoboni (ITA) completed the list of Triathle champions by winning the women's PMP6 title.

The Para Laser Run competitions on October 30 and 31 brought the championships to an exciting conclusion, with several athletes completing remarkable sequences of victories across all three sports.

Schöllig-Steffan (GER) maintained her unbeaten record in PMP5, recording the fastest women's time of the competition at 6:07.30. Hassiba Bouyoucef (FRA) also completed a hat-trick of titles, defeating Massey (GBR) in PMP1 by 7:12.73 to 7:25.57.

In women's PMP6, Harriet Dunn (GBR) claimed gold in 7:26.30, ahead of Triathle champion Mencoboni (ITA), who finished in 9:20.20.

Baldelli (ITA) was another athlete to complete a clean sweep of three titles, producing the fastest Para Laser Run time of the championships with an outstanding 5:20.96 in PMP6.

Cox (GBR) confirmed his superiority in PMP7 Laser Run, winning in 5:30.23 ahead of Lee (GBR) and Putz (RSA), who completed an identical podium to their Triathle contest.

Omar Bouyoucef (FRA), Dimbylow (GBR) and Ellis (GBR) also maintained their winning form, each adding Laser Run gold to their earlier Biathle and Triathle triumphs.

There was particular satisfaction for the home supporters as Ricardo Rodrigues (POR) claimed the PMP3 title in 6:19.02, providing a memorable gold medal moment for the host nation.

Compatriot Herlander Correia (POR) added a silver medal in PMP1, while Duarte Mendes (POR) finished fifth in the competitive PMP7 category.

Across the three sports, the performances in Madeira demonstrated not only the competitive quality of Para Biathle, Triathle and Laser Run, but also the commitment and versatility of athletes embracing multiple formats within the UIPM sporting family.

With established champions continuing to excel, close international rivalries and encouraging results for the host nation, the championships provided another valuable platform for Para sport on the global stage.

Dr Nicola Robinson, Chair of the UIPM Para Pentathlon Commission, said: “The Portuguese local organising committee have been outstanding in embracing the Para movement not only in their hosting capabilities giving a platform for Para sport alongside everyone else but also building their own movement! Congratulations to all athletes on your performances.”