Paul Blake is no stranger to winning world titles, but the Dorchester athlete says claiming his fourth World Para Athletics Championships gold in Dubai is his best achievement yet. 

Blake, the first British athlete to compete in finals action in Dubai, blew away the field to win gold in the T36 800m in a season’s best time of 2:07.44 on day one of competition. 

The 29-year-old, who previously won the title in 2013 and 2015 after winning bronze in the event at London 2012, admitted the feeling of clinching gold on the world stage will never wear off. 

“To be honest, I think this is the best one,” said Blake, who trains at Dorchester Athletic Club. 

“The way the last two years have panned out, this is really special. 

“To execute the race exactly as I wanted to and to win the gold, I’m really pleased with myself. 

“It’s amazing to be the first gold medallist of the Championships for Great Britain and hopefully this will spur on the rest of the team to deliver great performances. 

“The plan was to go through the first 200m in 31 seconds and the first 400m in 62s and I did that, so I just held the pace over the next 400m. 

“I’m buzzing. It’s great to get the first race under my belt. I’m normally last on and have to wait for everyone else.” 

Blake’s gold is Britain’s first in Dubai but their second of the competition after Derek Rae took silver in the T45/46 category at the London Marathon – which doubled as a World Championship race. 

Blake, who is reigning Paralympic champion in the 400m, will contest the event in Dubai, with the heats starting next Wednesday.

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