paris paralympics 2024 | 02 September 2024
Paris Paralympics Day 4 Wrap Up
Five medals in three finals for the Dolphins at La Defense Arena this morning as Australia shot up the medal table of the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
The Australian swim team had their most productive night of the Games to claim three silver and two bronze – including medal redemption for Ahmed Kelly.
The man they call Liquid Nails is used to swimming against adversity.
Born in a Baghdad orphanage in 1991 without functioning arms and legs as a result of chemical weapons used during the Gulf War, Kelly wasn’t about to let a DQ heat scare derail his fourth Paralympic campaign.
The 32-year-old shrugged off the early drama – in which he was disqualified only to be reinstated for the final on appeal – to win silver in his pet event – the SM3 150 IM, of which he is the world champion.
In a carbon finish to the Tokyo Games, Grant “Scooter” Patterson won bronze (3:06.94) behind Kelly (3:02.16) with the fast-finishing Josia Topf (3:00.16), from Germany, claiming the gold.
A grateful and humble Kelly said: “I expected to see the lead change (during the race), it’s about sticking to the process. I was hoping to go better than Tokyo. (The DQ) hurt a bit but I put it behind me and I’ve been doing the same style of freestyle for four Games but officials do their best, and we all make mistakes.”
Earlier in the night, Australia claimed another double podium finish in the pool – a silver and bronze in the men’s 100m freestyle S10.
Italy’s Stefano Raimondi gatecrashed Australia’s sprint party, relegating Rowan Crothers and Thomas Gallagher to second and third respectively.
Raimondi had the better start and turned first at 50m to stop the clock in 51.40 with Crothers (51.55) and Gallagher, ripping a massive PB (51.86) only 0.15 and 0.46 respectively behind.
Fellow Dolphin Alex Saffy, one of the youngest in the team at 18, placed seventh in 54.55.
Although disappointed not to win gold, Crothers said: “I know I’m capable of more but a silver medal if you ask me is pretty damn good. We race because we love it.”
Gallagher, gold medallist in the men’s 50m free S10, added: “It’s great fun to race together, we rock up to Brisbane heats acting like it’s the Paralympics … I’ve improved because of him (Crothers).”
In the last event of the night, the mixed 4x100m freestyle S14 relay team consisting of Jack Ireland, Madeleine McTernan, Ruby Storm and Ben Hance nabbed silver on the back of an outstanding anchor leg from Hance.
The day four haul takes Australia’s medal tally in the pool to 1-4-5.
For full results, see here.
Where can I watch the Paralympics?
The Paralympics will be broadcast free-to-air on Channel 9, 9Gem and streamed live and free on 9Now.
Key Time Zones
- 2am AWST: Western Australia
- 3.30am ACST: Northern Territory and South Australia
- 4am AEST: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania
What do the classifications mean?
- S1-S10 for athletes with physical impairments.
- S11-S13 for athletes with visual impairments.
- S14 for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Classifications explained here.
