Merci Beaucoup Paris | Champions and Rising Stars Become Highlights of Paralympics Games

Australia’s Athletics Team has delivered a stellar performance at the Paralympic Games, with the team of 32 athletes showcasing both seasoned champions and the rising stars of the sport who are set to shine even brighter by Brisbane 2032.

With a total of 11 medals – three gold, two silver and six bronze – the team not only proved its strength but gave a glimpse into the bright future of Australian para athletics.

The gold medals were a testament to the consistency and dominance of Australia’s defending champions, with James Turner (ACT, Iryna Dvoskina) and Vanessa Low (ACT, Scott Reardon) the standout performers once more.

Turner claimed two gold medal victories in the 400m T36 and 100m T36, with a world record in his race over a lap (51.54) and equalled the Paralympic record in the 100m (11.85), solidifying his place as one of the sport’s true icons.

Vanessa Low added to Australia’s golden tally by breaking the T61 world record in the Long Jump T63, with a leap of 5.45m, reaffirming her status as a Paralympic legend by achieving the historic three-peat.

But the gold medals weren’t the only metric of Australia’s success. In addition to the world and Paralympic records, the team achieved an impressive 12 Area Records, 34 Top-8 finishes and 16 personal bests – highlighting the personal triumphs that went hand-in-hand with the team’s success.

Rheed McCracken (NSW, Louise Sauvage) added to his Paralympic legacy, securing bronze in the 800m T34, making it four consecutive Games with a medal, and Madison de Rozario (NSW, Louise Sauvage), who carried the Australian flag at the Opening Ceremony, brought home both a bronze and silver medal, with her leadership on and off the track galvanising the team in Paris. Now a two-time Paralympian, Rhiannon Clarke (WA, Danny Kevan) captivated fans as she achieved Area Records in each of her races across the heats and finals of the 100m and 400m T38.

While the experienced athletes shone brightly, the focus was also on Australia’s Paralympic debutants and the next generation who proved they are more than ready to carry the torch into the future.

The performances of best friends Mali Lovell (NSW, Katie Edwards and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor) in the 200m T36 and Dayna Crees (VIC, Gordon Talbot) in the Javelin F34, as well as Reece Langdon (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy) in the 1500m T38 in achieving bronze medals offered an exciting preview of what is to come, with many more of the debutants setting personal bests and challenging for top spots on the world stage.

"The last three years has been a really transformative time in para athletics, and we're really proud of what this Australian team achieved here in Paris,” Athletics Australia General Manager – High Performance, Andrew Faichney said.

"Two of our defending champions continued their reign in their events, with James Turner and Vanessa Low breaking their respective world records, and we had so many athletes attend their fourth, fifth, and even seventh Paralympic Games.

"What's most exciting is not necessarily the medals, but the new wave of athletes coming up the ranks. Our Paralympic debutants have never had an opportunity to compete in front of a roaring crowd like the one at Stade de France and so many of them exceeded expectations, with the likes of Mali Lovell and Dayna Crees claiming their maiden Paralympic medals, and 16-year-old Telaya Blacksmith, who captured the hearts of all Australians when breaking two Australian records in the 400m and Long Jump T20.

"There is much work to do as we now look ahead to LA and Brisbane to ensure we build upon the results from Paris, however the future is looking bright."

Australian Medallists at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

GOLD (3)  - James Turner (400m T36 and 100m T36), Vanessa Low (Long Jump T63)

SILVER (2) – Michael Roeger (1500m T46), Madison de Rozario (Marathon T54)

BRONZE (6)  - Madison de Rozario (5000m T54), Reece Langdon (1500m T38), Dayna Crees (Javelin F34), Mali Lovell (200m T36), Rheed McCracken (800m T34), Michal Burian (Javelin Throw F64)

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 10/9/2024