Australia's Paralympic attack begins in Paris | Day One

Australia’s most elite para athletes began their Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in style, with Corey Anderson cementing his second top-eight finish at the pinnacle event, while Rosemary Little scored an Area Record and wheelchair racing heavyweight Madison de Rozario cruised through the first round to lock in another Paralympic final.

A bittersweet ending to Corey Anderson’s  (QLD, Lukas Cannon) second Paralympic campaign resulted in a sixth place finish in the Javelin F38, with the former world champion sailing the spear to 49.34m – coming just shy of his season’s best of 49.73m.

With just over two metres separating him from the medals, Anderson, who placed fourth in Tokyo, cited a shoulder injury causing him to surrender the bronze medal spot in the third round.

“The shoulder. It’s started a few years ago and just seems to be getting worse. I just need to manage it and keep building and strengthening the muscles around it,” Anderson said.

“I’m still so proud to compete but even more special is that my family is allowed to come this time,” speaking about his son Alex and his parents.

The event was won with an F38 world record by Colombia’s defending champion Jose Gregorio Lemos Rivas, with Ukraine’s Vladyslav Bilyi (52.86m) and An Dongquan (51.97m) rounding out the podium.

Seasoned campaigner Rosemary Little (NSW, Breanne Clement) and debutant Sarah Clifton Bligh (NSW, Louise Sauvage) became the first two Australians to compete in the club throw since Byree Moore at the London 2012 Games, and placed 14th and 16^th respectively.

"I had them (Oceania records) in T34 and T33 for racing, so I didn't realise I've got got it for a field event. It's nice to know that," Little said.

Little landed an Area Record of 16.65m on her fifth attempt – noting that Katherine Proudfoot’s Australian record sits at a further distance of 18.33m but did not meet the criteria for an Area record. Clifton-Bligh relished the opportunity to experience the crowd and feel of the stadium before the Shot Put F32, when throwing 14.70m on her first attempt.

Kicking off her three-event campaign in style, Australian team flagbearer and five-time Paralympian Madison de Rozario (NSW, Louise Sauvage) cruised through Heat 1 of the 5000m T54 to finish second behind Paralympic great Susannah Scaroni (USA).

Despite the rain creating difficult conditions for the wheelchair racers, de Rozario made light of the race, hitting the breaks to both conserve energy and take note of her opponent  to clock 11:43.64.

“It was nice to have a long time on the track and to really feel what it was like. The rain changes it enormously. The contact of our wheels made of rubber on this track makes it really slippery, and we also draft so much so we get the flicker of everyone’s rain water, but tomorrow will be dry for the final which is nice.”

Sam Rizzo (VIC, Richard Colman) was unlucky in the 5000m T54, competing in a race of six with the top-five guaranteeing their spot in the final. Strategic in his approach to the race, the Victorian looked to have timed his race to perfection, when USA’s Brian Siemann sprinted past in the final moments. Rizzo crossed the line in 11:19.32 and will reset for the 800m and 1500m T54.

"I've been trying to make this step up to the 5000m and even though it wasn't the result I wanted tonight, I'm pretty how the race went. It was tactical and I made some brave decisions."

Dusting off the cobwebs at his fourth Paralympic Games, Sam McIntosh (ACT, Fred Periac) finished sixth in his 400m T52 heat in 1:10.33, and will now turn his attention to his main event – the 100m T52.  

Australian Results Day 1 Para-athletics: 

MEN 

400m T52: Sam McIntosh 11th (1min:10.33sec) 

Javelin F38: Corey Anderson 6th (49.35 metres) 

WOMEN 

5000m T54: Madison de Rozario Heat 1, 2nd (11m:43.64s) Qualified for final. 

5000m T54: Sam Rizzo 12th (11m:19.32) 

Club Throw F32: Rosemary Little 14th  (16.65m); Sarah Clifton-Bligh 16th (14.70m) 

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 30/8/2024