Fresh off his first World Para Athletics Championships, Michael Mayne is craving opportunity. His international debut exceeded all expectations, leaving him with two years to work towards answering one question – can he beat the best?
Deep down, Mayne believes he can.
Competing in the long jump in New Delhi, Mayne was as an anomaly. His rivals had him covered in speed and elegance, but the 21-year-old’s ability to muscle himself down the runway flailing limbs left him as a surprising challenger.
Mayne finished in sixth place of the Long Jump T38 with a 6.33m performance, and while the margin of 20 centimetres to bronze was comprehensive on paper, it was close enough for the Australian to believe that next time may be different.
“My jumping is still so raw. What makes me excited is knowing that I have a lot more in me,” Mayne says.
“My form wasn’t up to the international standard at all. Once I get it right, I think I can contend. The guys who beat me in that competition, their form was perfect!”
Mayne will have to wait until the 2027 World Para Athletics Championships for the next swipe at his international rivals, with only the 100m on offer for his classification at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“We saw that there was no long jump at the Commonwealth Games, so my coach and I thought we would try out the 100-metres. After a month or two, I just wasn’t getting fast enough quick enough, so we put our heads down and focussed on long jump,” Mayne says.
“For this year where there is no major competition, I just need to focus on my body and technique. The biggest competition for me is Nationals, so I would love to do well there.”
Having only started long jump two years ago, Mayne knows the difference two years can make. He is not merely waiting for 2027 to roll around, but actively working towards becoming a global contender.
“Having access to the VIS gym, physios and dieticians, it seems like I have taken a step up in my training. My coach has seen what I can do and knows there is room for improvement,” Mayne says.
“Every time I train, the next World Championships and Paralympics are basically all that I’m thinking about.”
Coached by Commonwealth Games medallist Alwyn Jones, Mayne’s corner includes his new Australian teammates whose council proved one of the defining factors in his World Championships campaign.
“Speaking to a lot of the more experienced guys, the main thing was to go out there and have fun. I was taking in the atmosphere of the stadium, constantly having a smile and dancing to the music – that was what I was doing to keep calm,” Mayne says.
“Usually in those situations I get quite nervous, but once I realised that I needed to enjoy that moment, that’s when I ended up doing my best jump.”
As for Ari Gesini’s Australian record of 6.38m? Mayne is enjoying the beginning of a friendly rivalry.
“I would like to do another PB. Ari has the national record and if I could end the year with that, I would be stoked.”
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 4/2/2026
