Tunisia’s Raoua Tlili made history by winning her fifth consecutive gold medal in shot put at her fifth Paralympic Games in Paris. Standing at just 1.33 meters tall, the 34-year-old athlete triumphed in the F41 class with a throw of 10.40 meters at the Stade de France, securing her third straight gold in shot put. Tlili, who previously won gold in the F40 class in Beijing and London, expressed pride in her latest accomplishment especially considering her age and height.
The first para-athletics gold of the Paralympics was claimed by Brazil’s Julio Cesar Agripino in the men’s 5,000-meter T11 event for runners with a near-total visual impairment. Agripino broke the world record with a time of 14 minutes, 48.85 seconds, narrowly edging out Japan’s Kenya Karasawa and fellow Brazilian Yeltsin Jacques, the previous record holder. The victory held special significance for Agripino, who described it as his day and his title, highlighting the hard work and dedication that led to his success.
France secured its second gold medal of the Games with cyclist Alexandre Léauté’s triumph in the men’s C2 3,000-meter individual pursuit. Léauté, who also claimed gold in Tokyo, delighted the home crowd at the vélodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines by winning by a two-second margin over Ewoud Vromant of Belgium. The victory showcased Léauté’s skill and determination as a cyclist, further solidifying his status as a top competitor in the sport.
Brazil’s men’s goalball team, the defending champions, kicked off their title defense with a 13-8 victory over the United States in group play. Goalball, a sport for the vision impaired, features three-member teams wearing blackout glasses and aims scoring goals in a nine-meter wide goal. Leomon Moreno led Brazil with six points in the match, praising the high level of goalball in his country and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to continue competing with his teammates at the Paralympic Games.
Overall, the Paralympic Games in Paris have already seen incredible performances and inspiring victories from athletes around the world. Raoua Tlili’s historic gold medal win, Julio Cesar Agripino’s record-breaking achievement, and Alexandre Léauté’s cycling triumph are just a few examples of the competitive spirit and talent on display. As the Games continue, fans can look forward to more thrilling moments and extraordinary accomplishments as athletes push the boundaries of what is possible in para-sports.
