Hugo, a passionate runner, was the national champion at the 2023 Australian Cross Country Championships for U15 multiclass. However, this year, Hugo and other short-statured athletes were banned from competing in events longer than 400m.
Without providing clear reasons, School Sport Australia and Athletics Australia removed T40 and T41 classifications from the list of eligible categories for cross-country. This decision means that people with short stature, or dwarfism, can no longer participate in these events.
School Sport Australia stated via email that they have taken guidance from the rules of Athletics Australia and have "decided to follow their lead and subsequently change our rules to have T40 and T41
no longer eligible to compete over distances of 400m". They have informed 2GB's Ben Fordham that they will be "guided by Athletics Australia's technical advice. If that changes after a review, that will be reflected in our national championship rules and auidelines".
Come with us as we speak to Hugo! And uncover everything in between the cracks of running as a short stature athlete!