Preview of the Paralympic Competitions on August 31 at Paris 2024
On Saturday, August 31, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will shine a spotlight on a remarkable array of athletic talent, featuring competition in 15 different sports and seven gold medals available across various disciplines. The day marks the continuation of thrilling events, including para archery, para athletics, para track cycling, para swimming, para table tennis, para taekwondo, and shooting para sport, showcasing the determination and skill of athletes from around the world.
This third day of competition is poised to be particularly exciting, as it features the final segment of the three-day para taekwondo event, where three gold medals will be contested. Concurrently, the wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball competitions will offer nonstop action as teams vie for advancement in their respective divisions. At the end of the day, 15 new gold medallists will be crowned in para swimming, creating a memorable occasion at the Paris 2024 Games.
Significantly, French athletes will be striving for their first medals in para athletics on this day. Notable competitors include Timothée Adolphe, guided by Jeffrey Lami, and Trésor Makunda, who is assisted by Lucas Mathonat, both of whom will compete in the 400m T11 event with hopes of reaching the finals. Dimitri Jozwicki is another contender with aspirations for the podium in the 100m T38 race.
In the realm of para track cycling, Alexandre Léauté emerges as a leading contender in the 1,000m C1-3 time trial, supported by fellow French cyclists Thomas Peyroton-Dartet, Gatien Le Rousseau, and Kévin Le Cunff, who will be competing in the C4 individual pursuit, alongside Dorian Foulon in the C5 category.
Turning to para swimming, brothers Kylian Portal and Alex Portal will compete in the 400m freestyle S13, while Gaëlle Edon aims for a medal in the para sport shooting 10m air pistol SH1 event in Châteauroux. In para table tennis, the focus will be on the French pairs Florian Merrien/Flora Vautier in mixed doubles (XD7) and Clément Berthier/Esteban Herrault in men’s doubles (MD14), both of whom have secured a place in the semi-finals, facing the formidable challenge of competing against Chinese teams.
In boccia competitions, the French leader Sonia Heckel will once again meet Thailand’s Ladamanee Kla-Han in a much-anticipated match. Moreover, as the final day of para taekwondo competition unfolds, Evan Medell of Team USA is positioned as a strong favorite to secure the gold in the men’s K44 +80kg weight class. Having won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics despite sustaining an injury, Medell is determined to improve his standing in Paris.
Also noteworthy is the highly-anticipated Paralympic debut of Great Britain’s Iona Winnifrith, a 13-year-old double European champion, who will compete in the women’s 200m individual medley SM7, seeking her first Paralympic medal. Additionally, Brazilian swimmer Gabriel dos Santos Araujo, affectionately known as “Gabrielzihno,” aims to defend his title in the 50m backstroke S2, while USA’s celebrated swimmer Jessica Long seeks to commence her campaign, competing in the women’s S8 100m backstroke. With a history of 16 Paralympic gold medals, Long will also take part in several other events during the Games.
Moreover, the Dutch contender Fleur Jong is regarded as a strong favorite for the T64 long jump, while Susannah Scaroni of Team USA is expected to lead the way in the women’s T54 5,000m event.
For further details on the schedule for August 31, please refer to Olympics.com, and follow the events live via the Paralympic YouTube Channel and the official website of the International Paralympic Committee. Audience members are encouraged to verify regional broadcast availability, as geo-blocking policies may apply.
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