On a quieter day three of action for the NZ Paralympic Team at Paris 2024 was highlighted by Paralympian #211 Danielle Aitchison easing in to set a new Paralympic record in the Women’s 200m T36. While both Para cyclist Devon Briggs and Paralympian #201 Tupou Neiufi narrowly missed a spot in the final in their respective events.
Inside the Stade de France, Paralympian #211 Danielle Aitchison opened her quest in the Women’s 200m T36 by setting a new Paralympic record of 28.09, taking 0.10 off the previous record and cruising to victory in heat two. She topped the qualifiers for the final later today (Sunday 1 September NZT) at 22:31.
Aitchison, who set a world record when claiming Women’s 200m T64 gold at the Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships in May, looked to be running well within herself as she eased down to the finish line. The next fastest qualifier was Shi Yiting of China in a time of 28.87.
Riding with a fractured sacrum and dislocated coccyx following a pre-Games training crash, Devon Briggs finished seventh in qualification for the Men’s C1-3 1000m Time Trial – missing a spot in the final by one place.
The 20-year-old Kiwi, who claimed the world Men’s C3 1000m Time Trial title in Rio earlier this year, understandably struggled to find his best given the nature of his injuries. He covered the four laps of the at the Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines Velodrome in 1:08.505 – a long way shy of his PB of 1:05.259.
Briggs finished just over a second outside a place in the six-strong final but intends to be back on his bike to ride on the road in both the Men’s C3 Individual Time Trial and Men’s C1-3 Road Race later in the programme at Paris 2023.
A high-quality competition in which four world records tumbled across qualification and the final, Li Zhangyu (C1) of China claimed the gold medal with a factored time of 1:03.480.
Briggs said: “I’m gutted to miss the medal ride but that is all good, that is how sport goes sometimes.
“Getting into the gate I felt confident but from first pedal stroke I just felt my sacrum go and I felt the pain instantly. It was a hard ride from there.”
On the mental strength he required to race today he said: “I got out of bed this morning and every part of my body did not want to ride but I wanted to ride in my head and prove I am a Paralympian. I did that, and I am proud of myself.”
In the defence of her Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 title from Tokyo 2020 there was disappointment for Tupou Neiufi. The Auckland-based swimmer, who was a late inclusion into the NZ Paralympic Team for Paris 2024, made a good start in heat two and placed third at the 50m mark. However, she faded to fifth in the second half of the race, clocking 1:23.49 to place ninth overall – one place shy of a final berth. Alice Tai of Great Britain secured the heat win, advancing fastest to the final in a time of 1:14.26.
Neiufi, will compete in the Women’s 50m Freestyle S8 on day eight of the programme here at Paris 2024.
On her Paralympic debut Neelam O’Neill put together a performance to be proud to finish tenth in qualification in the P2 Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1. The Whangarei-raised athlete executed a fine series of 551pts across her 60 shots in qualification – but just missed out on a place in the eight-strong final by two places.
Sareh Javanmardi of Iran, who is hunting a hat-trick of Paralympic titles in this event, topped qualification with an impressive score of 570pts.
O’Neill said: “I’m pretty happy with how I shot. It is all a learning curve for me because I haven’t done a Paralympics before but having that feeling and being in this environment is amazing. It is both nerve-wracking and exciting.”
“I wanted to take my time, but I probably overthought it too much. I was trying to take each shot as it came but I felt a bit rushed. These things happen. There is room for improvement and tenth in the world is not too bad.”
On competing in the R3 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 on Sunday (1 September) from 7.30pm NZT O’Neill said: “I’m excited for tomorrow. Rifle is different but I just need to go into the competition relaxed and hopefully smash out some scores.”
Wojtek Czyz completed his historic Para badminton challenge at Paris 2024 with a 21-8 21-12 defeat to Daisuke Fujihara of Japan. Czyz, the first ever New Zealand Paralympic Team representative in the sport, climaxed his campaign with a third defeat in his three Group B matches but the 44-year-old can be hugely proud after only taking up the sport three years ago.
“It was more a fight than a game and made a lot of easy mistakes which is very frustrating. It is great to play long rallies but if the outcome is always making easy mistakes, then I need to work more and improve.
“My Paralympic experience in Paris was sensational. I would have loved to give New Zealand a win and I am very honoured to represent the country. I hope everyone saw that I tried to win every point.”
Alongside Aitchison and O’Neill a further three Kiwis will feature on day four (Sunday 1 – Monday 2 September NZT) of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Competing alongside O’Neill in the R3 Mixed 10m Air Rifle SH1 is fellow Kiwi Greg Reid and on a busy day at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, Michael Johnson competes in his second event at Paris 2024 – the R5 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2.
In the velodrome, Nicole Murray, who set a national record when placing fifth in the Women’s C4-5 Time Trial, returns to the track in the Women’s C5 3000m Individual Pursuit.
For a full guide of when to watch the Kiwis and other Paris 2024 related information go here
