The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games showcased the best of Para sports, with more than 40 world records broken in Para athletics.
From the USA’s rising star Jaydin Blackwell’s sprint in the men’s 100m T38 to Australia’s four-time Paralympian Vanessa Low’s new record in the women’s long jump T61, there were so many great moments to look back on.
Blackwell crossed the finish line in 10.64 seconds at Stade de France, trimming 0.08 from his own record. He finished ahead of countryman Ryan Medrano and Colombia’s Juan Alejandro Campas Sanchez.
“It was the perfect race, but I was just focused on what I had to do and get to the line as fast as possible,” Blackwell said after the race on 31 August.
“I was just telling myself to get out fast, do what you got to do. I just got into drive phase, stood up tall and started chugging it.
“It felt like it was a bit slow. When I looked at the line as I crossed the screen and saw 10.64, I was thinking ‘OK, alright, let’s go.”
Low broke the women’s long jump T61 world record. Competing in the women’s long jump T63, she leaped 5.45 metres, extending her previous world record by 0.12m. Low was competing at her fourth Games after giving birth to her son Matteo in June 2022.
After setting a new record on 5 September, Low said, “When I went to bed last night, I had a feeling I was going to open up big. I focused on what needed to be done.
“Starting the jump with a smile, that was the key. Anything done in a happy mindset is done better. Before the first jump, the pressure just fell off. This is where I’m meant to be. I just felt at home.”
Nearly 30 world records were broken in the pool at La Defense Arena. Italian superstar Simone Barlaam set a new record in the men’s 50m freestyle S9, touching the wall in 23.90 seconds. He also broke his own world record by 0.06 second. He won three gold medals and a silver at his second Paralympic Games.
Also in the pool, Brazil’s Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araujo had a lot to celebrate after he broke the world record twice in the men’s 150m individual medley SM2. He clocked 3:15.06 in the heats before 3:14.02 in the final.
Records also tumbled in Para powerlifting. Nigerian Para powerlifter Onyinyechi Mark leaves Paris with a gold medal and a new world record.
She broke the world record twice back-to-back in her debut at La Chapelle Arena on 6 September. Her final regular lift was 147kg, breaking the women’s up to 61kg world record, with a 150kg power lift just moments later breaking the world record yet again, securing her gold medal.
“I feel excited and so happy. I’ve worked so hard to be in these Games today, my expectation was for me to win my gold,” she said at La Chapelle Arena on 6 September. “I’m here today to win, I did it; I’m so happy.”
Also representing Nigeria, Folashade Oluwafemiayo broke the record in the women’s over 86kg in her third lift, then broke it again with a huge lift of 167kg in the power lift. Six other records were broken over five days of competition.
“My first attempt, as you could see, I was not balanced, but I had to get myself together. I did this and the second one, I had the confidence. I said I would go there and do this,” she said. “The first one gave me the confidence to go for another one. I wanted to test my ability.”
At the National Veldrome, the Netherlands’ Caroline Groot set a world record in the qualifying round of the women’s C5 500m time trial before she won the first gold medal of Paris 2024.
French star Alexandre Leaute beat the record twice in the men’s C2 3000m individual pursuit, capturing one of the two golds he claimed at Paris 2024 in front of a huge home crowd.
“It was unbelievable. The fans pushed me on. They really helped me win this gold medal,” Leaute said. “It’s two or three years now that I’ve been working with a new coach, and I think that’s what made me faster.”
World records also tumbled in other sports, including Para rowing.
Also read: Paralympics: Oluwafemiayo crowns Team Nigeria outing with gold, world record
