sports

Paralympics - A Golden Weekend - In The Athletes Own Words

ParalympicsGB Swimmer, Toni Shaw competing in the 400m Freestyle S9 - Women Final. Photo credit: imagecomms

On a record-breaking super Sunday in Paris 2024, Great Britain enjoyed their most successful day at a Paralympic Games this century with twelve gold medals.

The medal run began in the morning with Benjamin Pritchard at the rowing lake and ending in the pool with victory in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay S14. The previous record of 9 was reached in both Rio and Beijing.

Prior to Sabrina Fortune setting a world record to win the women's F20 shot throw title at the Stade de France, Hannah Cockroft secured the first Para-athletics gold for Great Britain by winning her fourth consecutive women's T34 100m title. She finished ahead of teammate Kare Adenegan.

The women's SB6 100m breaststroke was won by Maisie Summers-Newton; the women's SM8 200m individual medley was won by Brock Whiston with Alice Tai taking bronze; the women's SB5 100m breaststroke was won by Grace Harvey; and the mixed S14 4x100m relay was won by Britain's quartet.

Alice Tai. Photo credit ParalympicsGB

I have so many great friends in para swimming and it kind of sucks when you’re racing so many events because I don’t get to watch so much. It’s really nice seeing each other in the food hall and being like ‘oh my gosh, good job, you did so good’. It’s just a really nice atmosphere and I feel like I’m crying a lot this week. I just keep seeing people and I’m really proud of them. I just can’t stop crying, but good tears.

Alice Tai, Bronze in the SM8 200 IM in 2:41.29

I’m a little bit upset that I didn’t medal but I can’t be mad at that swim at all. I came here to do the 100m free just as a bonus event because my main event is 100m fly in two days’ time. I put a lot of pressure on myself between the heats this morning and the finals but I managed to calm myself down and I gave everything I could. I couldn’t give any more.

Callie-Ann Warrington, Fourth in the S10 100m freestyle with a time of 1:01:10

Bruce Dee. Photo credit: ParalympicsGB

I’m so happy. I was racing the guy next to me and that motivated me to get a better time. I’ve just been told, and I’ve really taken this in, just to enjoy it. LA is going to be my main one and I can’t wait for that one. But this has been a great experience and I’ve learned so many new things about racing and performing in front of this kind of crowd.

Bruce Dee, Fifth in men’s 100m SB6 breaststroke final in a PB 1:23.05

Sabrina Fortune. Photo credit: ParalympicsGB

I still can’t believe it, especially on the first throw. I was expecting about 14m on the first throw, just a simple throw and then I hit the world record and I just wanted to jump up and down and celebrate right then and then I remembered I have five more throws after that and couldn’t do it yet.
I’ve been going for this since Rio. Ever since a little girl, I didn’t expect with my limb disability to do an event like this. To be able to go on the world stage, it’s a crazy experience and it’s something I’m so proud I’ve been able to do and it’s just amazing.

Sabrina Fortune, Gold in the Women’s F20 shot put with a new world record of 15.12m