Paris 2024: ‘Flying Fish’ Jiang Yuyan secures 7th Para swimming gold
China’s Jiang Yuyan, nicknamed the ‘Flying Fish,’ won her final gold medal of Paris 2024 in the women’s 100m backstroke S6, finishing ahead of the reigning champion, Ellie Marks from the USA. The race took place at the La Defense Arena pool.
Jiang, who won four medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, including two golds, said her Paris 2024 experience was perfect. “I feel so proud. This has been a great Games for me,” she said. Jiang credited her three years of preparation for the success, giving her more confidence and experience.
Jiang’s victory in the 100m backstroke also set a new world record with a time of 1:19.44, breaking the previous record held by Marks. Despite finishing with silver, Marks was thrilled for her friend. “I’m so proud of her. It was a special moment for me,” Marks said. She had a total of five silver medals this Games, but this one felt especially meaningful.
Marks described the bond between competitors, saying, “Most of us are good friends, which makes racing fun. If you don’t do well, you’re happy for someone else who does.”
Jiang sees the new world record as a challenge for the future. “It’s a new standard to aim for. From now on, my competition is myself,” she said.
Jiang won seven gold medals at Paris 2024. The only events she didn’t win gold in were the 200m individual medley, where she was disqualified, and the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, where China placed 6th. Jiang wasn’t too concerned about the disqualification, saying, “I wasn’t good in that race, so it’s not important.”
In addition to Jiang’s success, other multi-medalists like Great Britain’s Alice Tai, Italy’s Stefano Raimondi, and USA’s Jessica Long had impressive performances. Long, with 18 gold medals across six Paralympic Games, won her 18th in the women’s 100m butterfly S8. Tai will go home with five medals, including two golds.
Looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028, Long expressed excitement but also acknowledged the challenge. “Paris has had the most incredible crowd I’ve ever swum in front of,” she said. “Los Angeles will have big shoes to fill.”
