First athlete to win six golds at one World Championships (Lyon 2013)

By 25 July 2013, at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, Tatyana McFadden had completed one of the most dominant performances in Para athletics history, becoming the first athlete ever to win six gold medals at a single World Championships.[3][9] She swept the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 5000m in the T54 class, a feat unmatched by any male or female athlete, Paralympian or Olympian, in track and field World Championships competition.[15]

This genuine first was historically significant because it redefined the ceiling for multi-event excellence in wheelchair racing.[9][15] McFadden’s ability to win across sprint, middle-distance, and long-distance races in one meet showcased exceptional stamina, tactical intelligence, and mental resilience. It also demonstrated the depth of competition in women’s Para athletics while highlighting her singular dominance at that time.

The Lyon sweep accelerated broader recognition of women’s wheelchair racers as elite, multi-dimensional athletes rather than niche specialists.[12][15] Media and governing bodies cited her achievement as a watershed moment, contributing to increased coverage of women’s Para sport and supporting arguments for greater funding, equal prize structures, and programmatic support.[3][9] For disabled girls and women, McFadden’s six-gold campaign offered an iconic example of barrier-breaking success, reinforcing her emerging role not only as a champion but also as a symbol of possibility in global sport.