The 2024 Paris Paralympics, running from August 28 to September 8, have showcased extraordinary athletic performances across multiple disciplines. Brazilian swimmer Gabriel Araújo continued his dominance in the pool, securing his third gold medal of the games in the 200m freestyle S2 category with a commanding time of 3:58.92, finishing 15 seconds ahead of his closest competitor. Russian Vladimir Danilenko claimed silver with a time of 4:14.16, while Chilean Alberto Abarza took bronze, clocking 4:22.18.In a historic achievement, Belarusian swimmer Igor Boki clinched his 20th Paralympic gold medal, the most in Paralympic history for a male athlete, by winning the 50m freestyle event in the S13 class for athletes with mild visual impairments. This victory marked Boki’s fourth gold medal in Paris, following his triumphs in the 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke, and 400m freestyle events.The track events saw equally impressive performances. Ukrainian sprinter Igor Tsytov secured gold in the 100-meter sprint for athletes with motor function impairments, finishing with a time of 11.43 seconds. In the field events, Russian athlete Evgeny Torsunov set a new Paralympic record in the long jump T36 class with a leap of 5.83 meters.The games also marked a milestone for inclusivity with the participation of Valentina Petrillo, the first trans athlete to compete in the Paralympics. Although Petrillo set a personal best of 57.58 seconds in the 400m T12 category, she narrowly missed qualifying for the final.As the Paralympics continue, athletes from around the world continue to push the boundaries of human performance, with many nations seeing success in the medal tally. The games have not only showcased athletic excellence but also the spirit of perseverance and inclusion that defines the Paralympic movement.
Key points
- Brazilian swimmer Gabriel Araújo won his third gold medal in the 200m freestyle S2 category.
- Belarusian Igor Boki secured a record 20th Paralympic gold medal in swimming.
- Ukrainian Igor Tsytov and Russian Evgeny Torsunov set impressive performances in sprint and long jump events respectively.
- Valentina Petrillo became the first trans athlete to compete in the Paralympics.
