TOKYO, Japan, June 4, 2025 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that wheelchair racer Catherine Debrunner, who Honda supports under a sponsorship agreement, set new world records in the Women’s 400m (T53), 1500m (T53/T54) and 5000m (T53/T54), at the 51st Swiss Nationals 2025, one of the international para athletics competitions, held in Arbon, Switzerland, May 31 to June 1, 2025.

Debrunner also broke her own world record and set a new world record in the 100m (T53) at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix (Switzerland) held the previous week, earning the honor for the second consecutive week.

The Swiss Nationals is an international wheelchair racing competition held annually in Switzerland. The Swiss Nationals and the World Para Athletics Grand Prix (Switzerland), held May 23 to 25 this year, are collectively called the “Swiss Racing Series.”

Debrunner had already held world records in eight wheelchair racing events – 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 10000m, half marathon and marathon. With the addition of the 5000m to the list, Debrunner became the world record holder in all T53 wheelchair racing events. Debrunner continues to take on new challenges, aiming for new heights in both track and marathon races. Honda has been supporting her challenges by supplying racing wheelchairs designed and produced by Honda.

Based on the Honda vision for its sports activities – “To increase the number of people who take on challenges through sports activities and make the lives of all people more enjoyable” – Honda will continue to support various athletes who take on challenges toward the realization of their own dreams.

“I feel super proud to be the world record holder over all distances – 9 in total. I know that people start expecting that from me more and more – that I win with a new WR, but it's not that easy and we should never take it for granted. I had to tell myself the last few days that if I win or lose it doesn't define who I am. I am still the same valuable person and I am very proud and happy about the achievements. And I would never have made it without you Team Honda! This was all teamwork. And I am so extremely grateful for it!”

Date of birth: April 11, 1995
Nationality: Switzerland
Start of Honda sponsorship: December 2023
Sport class: T53
Sport: Wheelchair racing (100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, marathon)

In the spirit of “Respect for the Individual,” one of the company’s Fundamental Beliefs, Honda has been striving to offer the joy and freedom of mobility to all customers around the world and contribute to their efforts to realize their dreams. As a part of this initiative, Honda has been conducting research and development of racing wheelchairs since 2000. In addition to providing them to the wheelchair athletes Honda supports, Honda made its racing wheelchairs available for sale to any customers since 2019. Through these activities, Honda will contribute to the further recognition of wheelchair athletics and the popularization and advancement of parasports.

About Honda racing wheelchairs:
https://racer.honda-sun.co.jp/en/

About Honda wheelchair athletics activities:
https://global.honda/en/sports/wheelchair_racing/

About Honda sports activities:
https://global.honda/en/sports/