Archer Jodie Grinham Becomes First Paralympic Athlete to Win Medal While Pregnant
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Following the close of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the international competition continues with this year’s Paralympics. With events ranging from para archery to wheelchair tennis, the Summer Games promise an exciting look at the world’s top athletes, as they compete in the City of Light for the first time in Paralympics history.
From August 28 to September 8, over 4,400 athletes will battle for the gold in individual and team events—including some like boccia and goalball, which don’t have an Olympic counterpart. Between impressive victories and uplifting acts of sportsmanship, there’s. number of scenes you won’t want to miss.
Ahead, read about the biggest moments so far from this year’s Paralympics, and make sure to watch this space for updates.
Paralympic archer Jodie Grinham wins gold at seven months pregnant.
British archer Jodie Grinham became the first athlete ever to win a Paralympic medal while pregnant this Saturday, when she took home an individual bronze medal, and later a team gold on Monday.
She told the BBC: “All I wanted to do at the end was jump up and down and cry and scream and shout.”
“But being heavily pregnant, realistically the best thing to do was crouch down and take a second and then I could give hugs and things,” the Paralympic archer, who is carrying her second child, continued. “The emotion was just a wave and it was like being a child at Christmas and getting your favorite toy.”
The first badminton medals in Paralympic (and Olympic) history are awarded.
Chinese duo Naili Lin and Fengmei Li won gold in the badminton mixed doubles event, while Americans Jayci Simon and Miles Krajewski secured silver. The medals are the first to be handed out for badminton in both Paralympic and Olympic history.
USA’s Roderick Townsend wins his third consecutive Paralympic gold medal.
Roderick Townsend cleared a height of 2.12 meters to win his third consecutive Paralympic gold medal in the men's high jump T47. He did so in style, repping a colorful haircut that featured a Picasso-like pattern.
Matt Stutzman claims the gold.
American Matt Stutzman—also fondly known as the “armless archer”—won gold in the men’s individual compound open, beating China’s Al Xinliang with a Paralympic record score of 149-147. The win comes 12 years after Stutzman earned his sole Paralympic medal (silver) at the 2012 London Games.
The U.S. women’s swim team racks up the medals.
Team USA won their first medal of the Paralympics when swimmer Ellie Marks claimed silver in the women’s 50m freestyle S6. American Gia Pergolini then earned the first U.S. gold medal of the Paralympics when she placed first in the women’s 100m backstroke S13. The win marks her second consecutive gold medal in the event.
And, in her Paralympic debut, swimmer Christie Raleigh Crossley broke a world record. She won the first heat in the women’s 50m freestyle S10 with a time of 27.28 seconds. Meanwhile, U.S. para swimming star Mallory Weggemann captured her second consecutive gold medal in the women’s 200m IM SM7 competition, doing so in Paralympic record time.
Later, Team USA swimmers set the bar even higher as they took the top two spots on the podium in the women’s 400m freestyle S7. Morgan Stickney dominated the race to win gold and set a Paralympic record, while McKenzie Coan finished in silver-medal position.
The Refugee Paralympic Team wins its first-ever medal.
Zakia Khudadadi won bronze in women’s K44 47kg taekwondo, giving the Refugee Paralympic Team its first-ever medal. Her bronze medal match opponent, Naoual Laarif of Morocco, was unable to compete due to an earlier injury.
Team USA makes history on day one.
In its opening game of the 2024 Paris Paralympics, the U.S. wheelchair rugby team defeated Canada 51-48. The victory also saw Sarah Adam become the first woman to play for the U.S. at the Games.
The opening ceremony featured over 500 performers.
Like the extravagant opening ceremony of the Olympics, the Paralympics began with a bang. The Summer Games opened at the Place de la Concorde, and saw 4,400 athletes from 168 different countries parade through the biggest square in Paris. Together, they made their way around the Obelisk from the bottom of the Champs-Elysees.
To the delight of fans, the official mascot of the Olympics and Paralympics made an appearance, too. Phryges appeared on stage to announce the entrance of the athletes, while plush versions of the red Phryges covered a cab driven by French para swimmer, Theo Curin, to pay tribute to the French show “Theo Le Taxi.”
While the Paralympic oath was read out by Arnaud Assoumani and Sandrine Martinet, the Paralympic Flame arrived on stage carried by Florent Manaudou. Michael Jeremiasz then received the sacred flame, before over 500 dancers, singers, and even DJs performed after while parading through the Place de la Concorde.
Christine and the Queens then closed out the show at the Place de la Concorde wearing a velvety red suit. The French singer and songwriter performed a rendition of Edith Piaf’s “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” before transitioning into Patrick Hernandez’s 1978 hit “Born to be Alive.” A magnificent fireworks display brought the proceedings to a close.
Jackie Chan kicked off the Games.
Legendary actor Jackie Chan began the Games by carrying the Paralympic flame on August 28, ahead of the opening ceremony. He met fans and even stopped for some selfies as he carried the flame through the streets of Paris.
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