The Paris 2024 Paralympics continue to captivate audiences with extraordinary athletic performances and inspiring stories of determination. As the games progress into their fifth day, several nations are celebrating significant achievements and historic milestones.India has been a standout performer, securing a record medal haul of seven medals so far, including one gold, two silvers, and four bronzes. Preethi Pal has emerged as a star for the Indian contingent, winning her second bronze medal in the women’s 200m T35 event with a personal best time of 30.01 seconds. This achievement makes her the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals in track and field events. Nishad Kumar added to India’s tally with a silver in the men’s high jump T47, clearing 2.04 meters.France celebrated a momentous victory as Tanguy de La Forest clinched his first Paralympic gold medal in the mixed 10m air rifle prone event. The 46-year-old Breton para-athlete, who has spinal muscular atrophy, expressed his joy, saying, ‘It’s just incredible. An insane emotion because the start of the final was tough but I quickly felt transcended and carried in a state of grace’. The French team is poised for more success, with strong medal prospects in para triathlon and badminton.In a historic moment for the Paralympics, Valentina Petrillo, a 50-year-old Italian athlete, is set to become the first transgender woman to compete in the games, participating in the 400 meters T12 classification for visually impaired athletes.Meanwhile, Germany aims to improve its third-place finish in the overall medal count from the previous games, with swimmers Tanja Scholz and Josia Topf already securing two gold medals each. Austria also celebrated as Florian Brungraber won silver in the PTWC-class triathlon, repeating his success from Tokyo.As the Paralympics continue, they not only showcase incredible athletic abilities but also serve as a platform for breaking barriers and changing perceptions about disability in sports.
Key points
- India secures a record medal haul of seven medals, including historic performances by Preethi Pal and Nishad Kumar.
- Tanguy de La Forest wins France’s first gold medal in shooting, overcoming personal challenges.
- Valentina Petrillo set to become the first transgender woman to compete in the Paralympics.
- Multiple nations, including Germany and Austria, celebrate significant achievements in various sports.
