PARIS PARALYMPICS 2024: Alex Saffy nets medal on Paralympic debut as James Tuner’s world record run secures gold
GOLD
James Turner (athletics, T36 400m) - Broke his own world record in Australia’s first athletics gold medal of the Games with a time of 51.54. Turner has now won golds at the last three Paralympics and is also due to contest the 100m.
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Rachael Watson (swimming, women’s S3 100m freestyle) - Watson picked up her third Paralympic medal, finishing eight seconds behind breakaway winner Leanne Smith of the USA, who set a new Paralympic record. Watson is also due to race in the 50m freestyle which she won gold in at Tokyo.
Alex Saffy (swimming, men’s S10 100m freestyle) - The sacrifices the teenage West Australian made when he left his hometown two years ago to move to Canberra paid off as he edge out fellow Australian Col Pearse to a medal in his debut Games.
WHAT ELSE HAPPENED:
* Athletics - Madison de Rozario finished fifth in the T53 1500m final after she claimed bronze in the 5000m earlier in the Games. De Rozario will compete in the marathon on Sunday.
* Wheelchair basketball - The Rollers’ Paralympic campaign is over without the side having won a game. The Australian team lost all three of their ranking games and then were hammered 84-64 by Great Britain.
* Boccia - After winning individual silvers, Jamieson Leeson and Dan Michel teamed up to kickstart their quest for gold in the mixed pairs (BC3). The duo saw off France 5-2 and beat Japan, also 5-2, in their qualifying pool.
* Table tennis - Qian Yang is through to yet another Paralympic table tennis gold medal match after beating Brazil’s Bruna Alexandre 3-2 in the women’s S10 singles final. Qian has seven medals to her name after adding the women’s doubles last week.
WHO SAID WHAT?
“A DQ in the last metre and .01, it’s crazy that it’s three years of work, and the last metre of both races can define all of that. It’s pretty brutal.” - A sombre Jaryd Clifford after his T13 5000m was stripped and he placed fourth in the 1500m by the barest of margins.
MEDAL TABLE (after day six)
1. China - Gold: 51, Silver: 39, Bronze 21. Total: 112.
2. Great Britain - Gold: 30, Silver: 17, Bronze 12. Total: 59.
3. USA - Gold: 19, Silver: 23, Bronze 11. Total: 53.
4. Brazil - Gold: 14, Silver: 10, Bronze 24. Total: 48.
**
8. Australia - Gold: 9, Silver: 9, Bronze 14. Total: 32.
