Australia's Jaryd Clifford has fought through the pain barrier to clinch a silver medal on day two of the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris.
Clifford, a three-time Paralympic Games medallist, burst into the lead down the back straight of the final lap of the 5000m T13 race before Spain's Yassine Ouhdadi El Ataby mustered a strong response to deny the Victorian.
Clifford crossed the line in 15 minutes, 18.23 seconds.
“I have a stress fracture in my left femur," Clifford said.
"So the last week was pretty stressful, choosing whether I take the risk with next year being the Paralympics, or whether I push through it.
"I didn’t run for two weeks. I had to leave it to the last lap (to go for the win), I didn’t know if I was still fit or what the go was."
With two silver medals and a bronze to his credit from 2021's Tokyo Games, Clifford is aiming to reach the top of the podium when he returns to the French capital for next year's Paralympics.
“Running in the green and gold has been a dream of mine since I was a kid," he said.
"All my heroes cherish the green and gold and I’ve seen my teammates miss out on world championships before.
“I’m still here and proud to put on the singlet again. To stand on that podium means a lot.
"I’m still shooting for that gold next year.”
The ACT's Sarah Walsh finished fifth in the long jump T64, which was won by double-leg amputee Fleur Jong of the Netherlands with a championship-record leap of 6.28m.
Australia’s second-youngest team member, 18-year-old Victorian Ella Hose threw her way to fourth place on international debut, recording 10.01 metres in the shot put F37.
Five-time Paralympic champion Evan O’Hanlon was unable to continue his golden streak of medals at major championships, finishing eighth in the 100m T38 weeks after sustaining a hamstring tear in training.
Paralympic champion James Turner bolted to a big win in the first round of the 400m T36, backing off in the home straight ahead of Tuesday's final.
Turner's 55.52 was the fastest time in qualifying but he will have to emulate something closer to his 51.71 career-best to maintain his perfect record at the World Para Athletics Championships.
Double Paralympic gold medallist Madison de Rozario was unable to complete the 5000m T54 but reported healthy post-event.
