The Australian Paralympic team has enjoyed a 10 medal showing on day four of the Paralympic Games. They now sit in sixth on the medal tally as China lead with 33 golds.
History and controversy in the Rowing.
The Aussies won their first para rowing gold in the Games’ history after Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager won the PR3 mixed doubles sculls final. The world record holding pair were challenged by Great Britain but held them off finishing with a time of 7.26.74 beating the Brits by just under two seconds.
Erik Horrie snagged a bronze medal after finishing fourth in the PR1 men’s single sculls rowing final. Horrie was given the bronze after Italian Giacomo Perini was disqualified for having a communication device on his boat. It’s Australia’s best year in rowing since the Games started, having never previously landed more than one medal in the sport at a single Games.
Multiple medals came from the pool
Majority of the 10 medals came from the pool with the Aussies winning five medals in the swimming events overnight.
The relay team took a silver medal in the mixed S14 4x100m freestyle after finishing just behind Great Britain. Jack Ireland, Ruby Storm, Ben Hance and Madeleine McTernan joined forces to claim the second place finish.
In the 150m medley SM3, Ahmed Kelly and Grant Patterson both scored medals. Hours after being disqualified, then reinstated, Kelly claimed the silver medal, whilst Patterson flew home to take the bronze.
Rowan Crothers and Thomas Gallagher won medals in the men’s 100m freestyle S10. Italian Stefano Raimondi beat them for gold with a time of 51.40 with Crothers coming second in 51.55 and Gallagher shortly behind for third in 51.86.
More bronze for Aussies
There were two medals from the track and field overnight with Mali Lovell claiming bronze in the Women’s 200m T36 Final. Dayna Crees also received a bronze in the Women’s F34 javelin final. It is the first Paralympic Games for both athletes.
After finishing third, Australia also claimed bronze in the team sprint at the velodrome. Gordon Allan, Korey Boddington and Alistair Donohoe all combined to finish just behind Great Britain and Spain.
Photo: Athletics event at the 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis in Seine-Saint-Deni by Chabe01 is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has not been modified.
