James Turner is a triple gold medallist yet has revealed how he almost didn’t make it to Paris

After defying all odds to claim his third Olympic title in Paris, James Turner has revealed how he had to build himself from the ground up just months out from the Paralympic Games.

James Turner almost couldn’t believe what he had achieved.

Struck down by glandular fever months out from the Paralympic Games in Paris, the 28-year-old’s preparations were at a crossroads.

There were days where he couldn’t walk because of “waves of exhaustion” and he was being faced with building from the ground up again.

But at the Stade de France he stormed to a third consecutive Paralympic gold medal, claiming the men’s 400m T36 as he had done in Tokyo three years ago.

James Turner won gold at the Men's 400m T36 Final. Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

“I had my doubts, you can’t always have the perfect prep,” he said.

“I wasn’t able to win in Kobe (Japan) because I got quite sick and wasn’t able to train properly. As I’d start training, I would get worse, we had to manage it really carefully.

“It was quite tough mentally, but I’ve had a lot of help with psychology. I have a lot of belief in what I’m doing and the process. We just had to get through it and do what we could on the day.

“Iryna (his coach Iryna Dvoskina) had to change all my programs so I could just make it here.”

GOLD and a NEW WORLD RECORD for James Turner! 🥇✨ James has just made history with a stunning performance, Australia is cheering so loudly.@AthleticsAust | @paralympics | @paris2024pic.twitter.com/QVz3xXnRNw

— AUS Paralympic Team (@AUSParalympics) September 3, 2024

Turner didn’t just win gold, he also broke the world record in a time of 51.54s.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to break a world record here today,” he said.

“I just thought maybe if I do everything right, I can scrape across the line first.

“When I heard I got lane seven, I got a bit more confidence.

“Every time I’m in lane seven at a major meet, I break a world record.”

As he continues to celebrate his gold medal, Turner will now be eyeing off double success.

He will also compete in the 100m with the heats to be held in the early hours of Saturday morning AEST.

The final is on Saturday night AEST.

Originally published as James Turner is a triple gold medallist yet has revealed how he almost didn’t make it to Paris