The 2024 Paris Paralympics continued to showcase exceptional athletic performances on September 3, with swimming and track events taking center stage. In the pool, Belarusian swimmer Igor Boki cemented his status as one of the most decorated Paralympians in history, clinching his 21st gold medal in the 200m individual medley S13 class. Boki set a new world record with a time of 2 minutes 2.03 seconds, improving upon his own previous record. French swimmer Alex Portal took silver, while Russian Vladimir Sotnikov secured bronze in the same event.In the men’s 200-meter freestyle, Russian swimmer Roman Zhdanov, a 26-year-old four-time Paralympics champion, added to his impressive medal haul by winning silver. This follows his gold medal performance in the men’s 150-meter individual medley earlier in the games.On the track, India celebrated a historic moment as Deepthi Jeevanji, a 20-year-old athlete with an intellectual impairment, clinched bronze in the women’s 400m T20 event. This marks India’s third-ever medal in track events at the Paralympics, with Jeevanji clocking a time of 55.82 seconds. Her journey from being spotted at a school meet to becoming a Paralympic medalist highlights the transformative power of sports.Turkish athlete Aysel Önder also made headlines in the women’s 400 meters T20 event, securing a silver medal with a time of 55.23 seconds. Önder had previously set a world and Paralympic record in the qualifying round with a time of 54.96 seconds, showcasing the high level of competition in para-athletics.The Paralympics continue to highlight the resilience and skill of athletes with disabilities from around the world. As the games progress, we’re seeing not only record-breaking performances but also inspiring stories of perseverance and dedication. The event will conclude on September 8, with more exciting competitions still to come.
Key points
- Belarusian swimmer Igor Boki won his 21st Paralympic gold medal, setting a new world record in the 200m individual medley S13 class.
- Indian athlete Deepthi Jeevanji won bronze in the women’s 400m T20 event, marking India’s third-ever medal in track events at the Paralympics.
- Turkish athlete Aysel Önder set a world record in the qualifying round of the women’s 400 meters T20 event before winning silver in the final.
