NSWIS wheelchair track & road athlete Kurt Fearnley has been included in the first round of athletes named to the Australian team competing at this year’s IPC Athletics World Championships.

Fearnley’s automatic selection came as a result of the bronze medal he won in the men’s T54 marathon at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Bronze in London followed gold medals in the same event at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games as Fearnley created history by becoming the first athlete to win medals in three successive Paralympic marathons.

Fearnley won gold in the men’s marathon at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in New Zealand, meaning he will defend his title in 2013 when the championships take place in Lyon, France from July 19-28.