Debrunner Sets New 100m T53 World Record in Switzerland

Swiss wheelchair racing star Catherine Debrunner sets a new world record in the Women’s 100m T53 at the 2025 World Para Athletics Grand Prix. Honda-supported athlete continues to push the limits of speed and endurance.

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In a powerful display of precision and athletic excellence, Swiss wheelchair racing phenom Catherine Debrunner has rewritten the record books yet again. At the 2025 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Nottwil, Switzerland, Debrunner blazed through the Women’s 100m T53 final with a time of 15.20 seconds, shaving 0.05 seconds off her own previous world record.

Held from May 23 to 25, the Grand Prix is one of the key international events in para athletics, drawing elite competitors from around the globe. Despite having been slightly under the weather at the start of the meet, Debrunner delivered a “perfect run from start to finish” on May 24, capitalising on ideal weather and track conditions.

“There were top conditions, and the wind didn’t slow me down – unlike on Friday,” Debrunner shared. “I was able to put in a perfect run from start to finish.”

A Living Legend in Wheelchair Racing

Debrunner, 30, is now the world record holder in six distances – 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and the marathon – an unprecedented achievement that cements her legacy as one of the most dominant figures in the history of parasport. Her recent victories include wins at the London, Boston, Berlin, and Chicago Marathons, as well as a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the 100m T53.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd., has sponsored her since December 2023, and races using state-of-the-art racing wheelchairs developed by Honda’s specialised engineering team.

Honda’s Commitment to Parasport Innovation

Honda’s support for Debrunner is part of a broader mission to promote mobility and inclusion. Since 2000, the company has invested in the design and engineering of high-performance racing wheelchairs. These are not only provided to sponsored athletes like Debrunner but have also been made available to the public since 2019.

Through this effort, Honda hopes to expand the reach of wheelchair athletics, support athletes chasing their dreams, and redefine the limits of human performance through engineering.

As the road to future competitions continues, Catherine Debrunner’s relentless pursuit of excellence serves as a reminder that the human spirit, when supported by innovation and belief, knows no bounds.