Portuguese Athlete Sets European Wheelchair Racing Record
Mamudo Baldé just became Europe's fastest wheelchair racer, clocking 13.61 seconds in the 100m T54 and missing the world record by just seven hundredths of a second. His performance in Switzerland proves that the 2028 Paralympic Games are going to be absolutely electric.
A Portuguese wheelchair racer just blazed into the history books with a performance that has the entire Paralympic community buzzing.
Mamudo Baldé crossed the finish line at 13.61 seconds in the 100 meters T54 class on May 24 at the ParAthletics 2026 Grand Prix in Nottwil, Switzerland. That time made him the fastest wheelchair athlete in European history and earned him the second fastest time ever recorded worldwide.
The race itself was nothing short of spectacular. Thai athlete Athiwat Paeng-Nuea took first place with a new world record of 13.54 seconds, meaning both he and Baldé shattered the previous world record in the same heat.
Baldé's time broke the European record that Finnish athlete Leo-Pekka Tähti set at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Tähti's mark of 13.63 seconds had stood for 14 years until Baldé beat it by two hundredths of a second.
The João Correia Academy athlete competed as the world-ranking leader going into the race. He's now focused on preparing for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, where he'll be a serious contender for gold.
The Swiss competition marked the final stop in a demanding three-week tour for Portugal's wheelchair athletics team. They competed in three events starting May 14, including the Daniela Jutzeler Memorial and Swiss Nationals in Arbon.
Why This Inspires
Baldé's performance shows what happens when talent meets relentless preparation. Coming into the race as the world-ranking leader, he didn't just defend his position but elevated European wheelchair racing to a new level entirely.
His teammate Rafael Neto also had reason to celebrate, finishing 13th in the same race with a personal best of 14.63 seconds. The entire Portuguese team is building momentum at exactly the right time, with two years to fine-tune before the world watches in Los Angeles.
The future of Paralympic wheelchair racing looks brighter than ever, and Portugal just announced itself as a force to be reckoned with.
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This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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