Pongsagon Opens Up After Breaking Wheelchair Racing 200m World Record in 9 Years
Thai wheelchair racer Pongsagon Paiyaw won gold at Switzerland's Nottwil Para Athletics Grand Prix, breaking the men's 200m T53 world record with a time of 24.89 seconds—the first to eclipse the nine-year-old mark.
Thai wheelchair racer Pongsagon Paiyaw delivered an outstanding performance at the Nottwil Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 in Switzerland, capturing gold in the men's 200-meter wheelchair racing T53 class with a time of 24.89 seconds. Beyond claiming the championship, he shattered the world record previously held by Canadian Brent Lagatos, who set the mark of 25.04 seconds on May 28, 2017—nearly nine years ago—by just 0.15 seconds. Speaking afterward, Paiyaw revealed that the Switzerland competition served as a world ranking point accumulation event, and he successfully achieved his goal of breaking the 200-meter world record. He noted that opportunities to compete in the 200-meter wheelchair race are rare, as the event is often eliminated from major tournaments. Though the 200-meter distance isn't his preferred racing length, Paiyaw expressed pride in adding another world record holder to Thailand's achievements.
