Paralympic Stars Shine, Britain Closes Gap

AFP/APP

Paris: Amputee sprinters made a powerful entrance at the Paralympics on Sunday, while Britain continued to close the gap on China’s medal tally with golden performances in both the pool and on the track.

However, organizers faced a setback as the triathlon events were postponed by 24 hours due to concerns about the River Seine’s water quality following heavy rain. The events are now scheduled for Monday.

China maintained its lead on the fourth day of competition, securing 33 gold medals. Britain followed closely with 23 golds, while the USA and Brazil each held eight.

Among Britain’s triumphs was wheelchair racer Hannah Cockcroft, who claimed her fourth consecutive Paralympic title in the women’s T34 100 meters, a streak that began at the London 2012 Paralympics.

Cockcroft credited the estimated 50,000 spectators at the Stade de France for her victory. “My wheels were vibrating!” she exclaimed. “They said ‘On your marks,’ and it didn’t go quiet. I was afraid I wouldn’t hear the gun. But this is what we want; it’s fantastic.”

She expressed her pride in winning a fourth gold medal and pledged to continue competing until the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. However, her immediate focus is her upcoming wedding to fellow British Paralympian Nathan Maguire later this year.

In the pool, British swimmer Maisie Newton Summers claimed her second gold medal of the Games by winning the SB6 100m breaststroke title.

China’s dominance across various sports kept them in the lead, with eight gold medals in swimming alone. Among the winners was Yang Hong, who secured the men’s SB6 breaststroke title.