Kyron Duke (born 12 October 1992) is a powerlifter and

Paralympian The Paralympic Games or Paralympics, also known as the ''Games of the Paralympiad'', is a periodic series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of physical disabilities, including impaired muscle power and impaire ...

track and field Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping events ...

athlete from

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

, UK competing in category F41 throwing events. Duke has represented Wales in the

2010 Commonwealth Games The 2010 Commonwealth Games (Hindi: 2010 राष्ट्रमण्डल खेल), officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Delhi 2010, was an international multi-sport event that was held in Delhi, India, f ...

in powerlifting. In 2012 he qualified for the

2012 Summer Paralympics The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Summer Paralympic Gam ...

in javelin and shot put.

History

Duke was born in

Newport Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay Europe Ireland *Newport, County Mayo, a town on the ...

, south Wales in 1992, but now lives in

Pontnewydd Pontnewydd is a suburb of Cwmbran in the county borough of Torfaen, south-east Wales. It should not be confused with Pontnewynydd in nearby Pontypool. An 18th century settlement within the historical parish of Llanfrechfa Upper, Pontnewydd beca ...

near Cwmbran. He was born with achondroplasia a form of dwarfism. His older cousin Gareth Duke also has the same condition and represented Great Britain as a swimmer in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, winning gold, silver and bronze medals. Duke took up powerlifting at the age of 12 and became junior champion at the para-sport in October 2009. He represented Wales at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the EAD (Elite athletes with a disability) category benchpress. In 2009, along with his powerlifting, Duke began entering para sport athletic events. He competed in both the F40 shot put and javelin at the CP Sport Grand Prix in Nottingham and the Czech Open. In 2010 as well as the Nottingham Grand Prix, Duke also entered the Berlin Open. In Berlin he finished fourth in the discus and shot put and first in the javelin, equalling his personal best of 29.53m. In 2011 Duke took gold medal in the javelin at the

IWAS The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) is an international sports organisation that governs sports for athletes with physical impairments. IWAS is a registered charity with its headquarters located at Aylesbury Colleg ...

World Junior Championships held in Dubai, and recorded a personal best in the javelin of 33.38m at the Czech Open. 2011 also saw Duke qualified for the IPC Athletics World Championships at the men's F40 – javelin. His throw of 32.64 earned him the bronze medal. In 2011 Duke took part in a documentary for Channel 4 in the UK, as part of the Best of British series. He, along with athlete Sean Clare, took part in the programme which attempted to challenge preconceptions associated with their stature. Duke recorded his personal best in both shot put (11.19m) and javelin (37.39) at the Welsh Championships in Cardiff on 2 June 2012. In 2013 Duke qualified for the shot put as part of the British team for the

2013 IPC Athletics World Championships The 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships was the biggest track and field competition for athletes with a disability since the 2012 Summer Paralympics. It was held in Lyon, France, and lasted from 20 to 28 July. Around 1,100 athletes competed, ...

in Lyon, France. Duke took the bronze in the F41 shot.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Duke, Kyron 1992 births Living people Sportspeople from Newport, Wales Sportspeople from Cwmbran Welsh male shot putters Competitors in athletics with dwarfism Sportsmen with disabilities British male shot putters British powerlifters Welsh disabled sportspeople Les Autres category Paralympic competitors Track and field athletes with disabilities Paralympic athletes of Great Britain Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Commonwealth Games competitors for Wales Powerlifters at the 2010 Commonwealth Games Welsh male javelin throwers Welsh Paralympic competitors Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Paralympics