Paris 2024 Paralympics | They gave you chills: the summary of August 29th
The curtain has fallen on the first day of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Joy, surprises, achievements and disappointments: a look back at the highlights of Thursday 29 August.
Already one gold medal and a total of three medals for France at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
A lot was expected of the French Para-swimming team at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Thursday. Ugo Didier, in the 400 m freestyle S9, and Alex Portal, in the 100 m butterfly S13, were indeed among the favourites. And they did not disappoint. First Ugo Didier beat Simone Barlaam in a fantastic race to secure a magnificent Paralympic title.
A few minutes later, it was Alex Portal’s turn to win a silver medal. Beaten by Ihar Boki after a very close race, he thrilled the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre. Brazilian star Gabriel Araujo, aka Gabrielzinho, won his first title of the competition in the S2 100 m backstroke, as did Great Britain’s Poppy Maskill in the S14 100 m butterfly.
Picture by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
France’s third medal of the day came in the very first medal event of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The women’s C4-C5 500m time trial was held at the Vélodrome national in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. Marie Patouillet won the silver medal.
Another medal assured for Les Bleus
In Para table tennis at the Arena Paris Sud, no fewer than 11 French doubles pairs were competing on Thursday. One of them particularly shone: Fabien Lamirault and Julien Michaud. After defeating Poland’s Rafal Czuper and Tomasz Jakiczuk 3 sets to 2, they qualified for the semi-finals and are guaranteed medals in this MD4 men’s doubles tournament.
Elsewhere, the pairs Emeric Martin/Thomas Maxime (MD8), Matéo Bohéas/Thomas Bouvais (MD18) and Alexandra Saint-Pierre/Flora Vautier (WD6) are in the quarter-finals, while the duos Matéo Bohéas/Morgen Caillaud (XD17), Lucas Didier/Thu Kamkasomphou (XD17) and Florian Merrien/Flora Vautier (XD7) are in the last 16.
Pain stronger than Bopha Kong, Zakia Khudadadi medals for the Paralympic Refugee Team
Frenchman Bopha Kong failed to win a Paralympic medal in the Para taekwondo event at the Grand Palais on Thursday. Already a four-time world champion, he arrived at this event physically weakened after injuring his right knee a few weeks ago. Unable to defend his chances properly, he largely lost his two bouts.
The beautiful story of the day, in Para taekwondo, comes from the Paralympic Refugee Team. Zakia Khudadadi, who trains with the French team, won bronze in the -47 kg category.
Para archery records galore
With no spectators in attendance, the Para archery ranking rounds took place on this first day at Les Invalides. In the various categories, the archers were efficient, setting two world records (Sarka Pultar Musilova in W1 and Oznur Cure Gidi in Compound Open) and three Paralympic records (Zhang Tianxin in W1, Guillaume Toucoullet in Classical Open and Ai Xinliang in Compound Open).
Click HERE for a summary of the team sports results.
The medals table for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
After the first day of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, China – which has won every edition since Athens 2004 – is already top of the medals table with four titles. France is fifth (1 gold, 2 silver).
