New Zealand sprinters Paralympian #208 Will Stedman and Paralympian #195 Anna Grimaldi burned up the track to ignite day six of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to claim a silver and bronze medal in their respective events.
Competing just under 16 hours after finishing fourth in the Men’s Long Jump T36, Stedman obliterated his national record by a huge 0.44 seconds to take a glorious silver medal in the Men’s 400m T36 in a time of 52.92 finishing behind James Turner of Australia, who set a new world record mark of 51.54.
Meanwhile, in the evening session at the Stade de France, Grimaldi lowered the Oceania record for the second time today by blitzing to 12.20 to claim a much cherished bronze medal success in the Women’s 100m T47. The NZ Paralympic Team medal tally at Paris 2024 now totals five with three silver and two bronze medals.
For the 24-year-old Stedman it was the fifth Paralympic Games medal of his career and a third successive Paralympic Games medal in the Men’s 400m T36 after winning bronze medals at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Slated for a near high noon one-lap showdown inside a vociferous Stade de France, Stedman, who claimed the gold medal in this event at the Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships in May, was up against formidable opposition in the shape of Turner, the defending champion.
It was the Australian who made the quicker start and by halfway held a decisive lead with Stedman opting a little way back in second over the first 200m. The Kiwi, however, started to make his move around the final bend and entered the home straight in a clear second place. While Turner further stretched his advantage in the latter stages and could not be caught, Stedman consolidated his placing and crossed the finish line to grab a richly deserved silver medal. Bronze went to Alexis Sebastian Chavez of Argentina in an area record of 53.60.
An elated Stedman said: “I only got three-and-a-hours sleep last night (following his long jump final) and I was worried about that but as I warmed up, I got a good feeling. I ran a good first half of the race and then I felt good around the bend and pushed it hard. With 50 metres to go I had nothing in the legs, I was trying to hold on and I almost tripped over a couple of times. To run 52.92 – a 0.44 PB is crazy. I knew I could run well today, but I didn’t think I would do that well given the sleep I had. I’m over the moon with that performance.”
On winning silver he said: “It means a lot to me, especially as a lot of other athletes in the field ran well today. I had to run well to get the silver. This year I’ve improved my 400m PB by quite a bit. It is cool to see the hard work I’ve put in over the past three years pay off.”
Stedman, who competes in the Men’s 100m T36 on Saturday (7 September), said he plans to eat some ice cream in the Village today and then rest up ahead of his final event at Paris 2024, added: “I’m really looking forward to the 100m. I’m in good shape, we’ll give it a go and then see what happens.”
Born with Cerebral palsy, Stedman was inspired to become a Paralympian after watching the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Shortly after he joined his local athletics club and he started out as middle and long-distance runner. Attending several Paralympics NZ Para athletics development camps in 2015 he made his international debut and at the age of 16 he claimed Men’s 400m T36 and Men’s 800m T36 bronze medals at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. At Tokyo 2020, Stedman harvested Men’s Long Jump T36 silver and Men’s 400m T36 bronze and has maintained his reputation as a regular winner of medals on the global stage over the past three years.
Grimaldi, the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Women’s Long Jump T47 champion has in more recent years developed into a world-class sprinter as evidenced by back-to-back bronze medal successes at the Paris 2023 and Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships.
Facing a formidable field, she laid down a marker in the first round heats by slicing 0.08 from her PB to lower the Oceania record and place third in her heat with a dazzling performance.
In the final she got away to a solid start while the trio of Lisbeli Marina Vera Andrade of Venezuela, Brittni Mason of the USA and Kiara Rodriguez of Ecuador established control of the race and occupied the three medal positions. However, with around 20 metres remaining, Vera Andrade the fastest qualifier, dramatically slowed and crashed to the track allowing the fast-finishing Grimaldi to power home to the bronze medal. Rodriguez captured an impressive gold in a season’s best 12.08 with Mason taking silver just 0.02 adrift.
For Grimaldi it represented a stunning start to her Paris 2024 campaign which includes the defence of the Women’s Long Jump T47 title on Friday (6 September) and later in the programme an appearance in the Women’s 200m T47.
A jubilant Grimaldi said: “I was really nervous this morning, but the heat really instilled confidence in me. I didn’t have the best start (in the heat) but I kept accelerating and I got close to athletes I look up to.”
“This evening, I knew where I needed to put my energy into the race, I think I got a better start. I would have loved another 20 metres because I think I would have caught another athlete. The 100 metres is a race I still feel like I’m finding my feet. It is scary because it is one and done and not like the long jump where you get six rounds. I am so proud.”
On the atmosphere in the stadium, she said: “It is crazy. I have seen the Paralympic Movement change in my time in the sport, but Paris is the next step again.”
A third New Zealand sprinter hit the starting blocks today inside the Stade de France with Paralympian #224 Anna Steven matching her performance from Tokyo 2020 by placing eighth in the Women’s 200m T64.
After the 24-year-old Aucklander set a season’s best of 29.13 to place fourth in her heat and advance to the final as one of two athletes on time in the final she posted a mark of 29.37 in the medal race.
Kimberly Alkemade of the Netherlands blitzed to victory in a Paralympic record of 25.42 from her compatriot Marlene Van Gansewinkel (26.14). Imgard Bensusan of Germany rounded out the podium in 26.77.
New Zealand achieved seventh and eighth place finishes in the pool as the Para swimmers performed with pride at the Paris La Defense Arena.
Competing in his third successive Men’s Backstroke S9 final, Paralympian #205 Jesse Reynolds placed seventh registering a time of 1:04.89 in a top-quality race. Qualifying fifth fastest for the final after recording a heat time of 1:04.53, the 27-year-old Hamilton-based athlete made a solid start in the medal race hitting the 50m turn in seventh spot. Reynolds could not improve on his position in the second half of the race but claimed seventh to follow up on his sixth place in this event at Tokyo 2020 and seventh at Rio 2016.
Yahor Shchalkanau (Neutral Paralympic Athlete) produced a blistering performance to grab gold in a Paralympic record time of 1:00.76 with Ugo Didier of France (1:01.48) and Bogdan Mozgovoi (NPA) in 1:01.93 claiming the other podium slots.
Reynolds said: “I put everything on the line this morning (in the heats) and I think that’s where we were at. I had a few things I was hoping to change up and hopefully come home a little stronger (in the final) but it didn’t quite play out. But I’m still proud of the performance, it has been a long build up. I’m just trying to take the most out of it and enjoy myself while I’m here, I’m still pretty happy.”
Three-time Paralympic champion Paralympian #168 Cameron Leslie competing in his second final at Paris 2024 finished eighth in the Men’s 200m Freestyle S4 in 3:06.84. The 34-year-old Whangarei-based swimmer competing in his second of four events on the programme in the French capital and hit the 50m turn in seventh before slipping to eighth by halfway.
Finding the second half of the race a tough assignment, Leslie, who had earlier recorded a slightly quicker time of 3:06.18 in qualification, said: “I’m disappointed to be honest, I wanted to go low 3s (minutes). I had a gut feeling it needed to be 2:50 something to be on the podium but a time under 3:03 was what I was aiming for, not there it is frustrating.”
“After the first two races (he placed seventh in the Men’s 100m Freestyle S4) it is a bit of a reality check that I’ve stayed at the same level but that others have stepped up for the big dance.”
However, he added of his two remaining races at Paris 2024: “I’m way more excited about the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke ahead, it is definitely what I’m here for.”
Leslie next competes on Friday (6 September) in the Men’s 50m Freestyle S4.
The formidable Ami Omer Dadoan of Israel claimed a convincing victory in 2:49.26 to snare a second gold medal at Paris 2024. Behind, Roman Zhdanov a Neutral Paralympic Athlete in 2:53.01 and Takayuki Suzuki of Japan in 2:55.17 completed the podium.
The third Kiwi Para swimmer in action today teenager Lili-Fox Mason came within 0.04 of her personal best in the heats of the Women’s 100m Butterfly S10 on her Paralympic debut. In an event where the world record is still held by Paralympian #166 Dame Sophie Pascoe, the 19-year-old Christchurch-based athlete acquitted herself well to record 1:12.44 and finish seventh in heat two as victory was secured by reigning world champion Faye Rogers of Great Britain in 1:05.92. Mason’s mark was not quick enough to book her ticket for the final, but the 19-year-old Cantabrian will take confidence from the performance leading into the Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 heats on Thursday (5 September).
On a busy day seven of action (Wednesday 4 -Thursday 5 September NZT) for the NZ Paralympic Team some eight Kiwis compete at Paris 2024. Four New Zealand Para cyclists compete on the road including Paralympian #225 Anna Taylor (Women’s C4 Individual Time Trial) and Paralympian #222 Nicole Murray (Women’s C5 Individual Time Trial) with both hunting a second podium finish in the French capital having both snared a medal on the track. A third Kiwi, Devon Briggs, competes in the Men’s C3 Individual Time Trial while Hand cyclist Rory Mead makes his first appearance at Paris 2024 in the Men’s H2 Individual Time Trial.
Inside the Stade de France Paralympian #183 Holly Robinson opens her account at her fourth Paralympic Games in the Women’s Shot Put F46 and Paralympian #211 Danielle Aitchison, off the back of her silver medal-winning performance in the Women’s 200m T36, competes in the Women’s 100m T36.
Louise Duncan (Para Equestrian) makes her Paralympic debut in the Dressage Individual Grade IV Para Grand Prix Test on her mount, Showcase, at Chateau de Versailles and Shooting Para sport legend Paralympian #148 Michael Johnson makes his third and final competitive appearance at Paris 2024 in the R9 Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH2.
For a full guide of when to watch the Kiwis and other Paris 2024 related information go here.
