The flame may be extinguished from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games but the memories linger on. We reflect on 11 days of intense competition using the word Paralympics to make sense of it all.
P is for Paralympic record
Paralympian #211 Danielle Aitchison celebrated a stunning Paralympic record time of 28.09 in the heats of the Women’s 200m T36. The 23-year-old Hamilton-based athlete burned up the track in the qualification round before recording 27.64 – one of the fastest times in her career – to take silver in the final just 0.14 behind the gold medallist Yiting Shi of China. Aitchison also delivered a world-class performance in the Women’s 100m T36 final, recording a blistering 13.43 to finish a mere 0.04 behind Shi to claim double sprint silver at Paris 2024. The consistent warmth and sportspersonship shown between the pair was one of the most endearing memories of the Games.
A is for Anna
Paralympian #225 Anna Taylor got the medal ball rolling for the NZ Paralympic Team by claiming a heartwarming silver medal in the Women’s C4 3000m Individual Pursuit. The 33-year-old Para cyclist, who has overcome a number of health challenges in recent years, smashed the national record by more than six seconds in the qualification, recording a scintillating 3:42.137, to advance to the gold medal race.
In that final Australian Emily Petricola proved too strong but Taylor would not be denied a richly deserved silver. She said: “I am just grateful that all the work I have put in has paid off because that is not always the case. I am glad everything held together.”
R is for Robinson
Paralympian #183 Holly Robinson claimed the third Paralympic Games medal of her career with bronze in the Women’s Shot Put F46 to complete the full suite of Paralympic medals following Women’s Javelin F46 gold and silver medals at Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016, respectively. The 29-year-old Dunedin-based athlete who competed in her last ever javelin competition here in the Stade de France has seen that event take an increasing toll on her body. But showing admirable resolve and resilience over the past three years she has impressively transitioned to the shot put and was rewarded with a medal thanks to an 11.88m toss.
A is for Anna (again)
Paralympian #195 Anna Grimaldi, arguably, provided the NZ Paralympic Team highlight at Paris 2024 by bouncing back from the disappointment of narrowly missing the podium in the Women’s Long Jump T47 to strike gold in the Women’s 200m T47. Her gruelling programme started on a high as she revealed her new-found sprinting prowess by setting a pair of Oceania records en route to bronze in the Women’s 100m T47. The Dunedin athlete then suffered frustration in the Women’s Long Jump T47. Gunning for a hat-trick of Paralympic titles she struggled to find her usual rhythm and finished fourth – just 1cm shy of the podium. Yet dusting herself down to quickly wash away any frustration she may have been feeling, the following day she set two further Oceania records in the Women’s 200m T47 to wipe more than a second from her pre-Games PB and power to gold in 24.72.
L is for Leslie
Three-time Paralympic champion Paralympian #164 Cameron Leslie advanced to no less than FOUR finals on the Para swimming programme but fell agonisingly short of his dream of adding another medal to his Paralympic Games collection. In the Men’s 50m Backstroke S4 he finished fourth less than quarter-of-a-second off the podium and he came even closer with fourth in the Men’s 50m Freestyle S8 – a mere 0.13 shy of the bronze medal position. The 34-year-old Para sport superstar may have just missed a medal, but he conducted himself with typical class throughout the Games and can be proud of his competitive efforts in front of his wife and three children.
Y is for yield
The NZ Paralympic Team yielded a total of nine medals at Paris 2024 – with one gold, four silver and four bronze medals. However, the performance of the 24-strong Team in the French capital should not just be measured in pure medals as the combined Team set one Paralympic record, four Oceania records, 11 national records and 12 PB’s demonstrating how so many delivered on the biggest stage.
M is for Murray and Matt!
Competing at her second Paralympic Games Paralympian #222 Nicole Murray can reflect on a memorable Games. The 31-year-old Cambridge-based Para cyclist set a national record in qualification for the Women’s C5 500m Time Trial and went on to finish fifth in the final before posting two New Zealand records in the Women’s C5 3000m Individual Pursuit to take a dazzling bronze. Also finishing fourth on the road in the Women’s Individual Time Trial she concluded her Games as one of the two New Zealand flagbearers at the Closing Ceremony.
An honourable mention to Paralympian #230 Matt Britz. On his Paralympic debut the 20-year-old Para table tennis ace took two games off the much higher ranked Charlermpong Punpoo of Thailand before going down to a narrow 3-2 defeat. Matt will be back and showed he is comfortable in the intense and pressurised Paralympic Games environment.
P is for Peter
Paralympian #231 Peter Cowan concluded the competitive challenge of the NZ Paralympic Team at Paris 2024 by taking a bronze medal in the Men’s VL3 200m event on the 11th and final day of competition. The 29-year-old from Hastings has made a huge step up this year, winning a Para canoe World Championships silver medal in May and remaining ice cool on his Paralympic Games debut to hold off the challenge of defending Curtis McGrath of Australia and climb the podium.
Cowan said: “To do it (win bronze) in a giant field of quality paddlers was just unreal and I take my hat off to all the guys in our division they are all strong paddlers, but I had full belief that the right result would come if I just focused on my own performance.”
I is for Images
We had so many stunning images taken of the NZ Paralympic Team during 11 days of competition, it is hard to pick a favourite. From the Chateauroux Shooting Centre to the Chateau de Versailles and the Stade de France to the South Paris Arena many of the key moments were captured through the lens of Getty photographer Fiona Goodall.
C is for Christchurch
The home city of Paralympian #208 Will Stedman who earned a fifth Paralympic Games podium at Paris 2024 to add more precious metal to his enviable collection. The 24-year-old sprinter/jumper scalped 0.44 from his national record to run 52.92 and take silver behind Aussie James Turner, who produced a world record performance for gold. Will’s busy schedule also saw him finish fourth in the Men’s Long Jump T36 – within 2cm of the podium – and sixth in the Men’s 100m T36 final, recording a New Zealand record mark of 12.35.
S is for Something
The 24-strong Team delivered on its promise to give you ‘Something to Talk About’ with some exhilarating performances and a kaleidoscope of memories. From the emotion of Paralympian #234 Louise Duncan making her Paralympic debut in Para equestrian to the efforts of 44-year-old Paralympian #232 Wojtek Czyz becoming the first New Zealand athlete to appear at a Paralympic Games in Para badminton we have so many rich memories which will reverberate and be talked about for many months to come.
