We are just over halfway of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, with Australia already winning a total of 9 gold medals, 9 silver medals and 14 bronze medals! There have been a number of key moments that have occurred over the week, some including Harvey Norman Ambassadors Madison de Rozario and Chris Bond, along with Harvey Norman Employee Rheed McCracken.
Australia’s first gold came from Amanda Reid in the Women’s C1-3 500M Time Trial on the Para Cycling Track, which inspired the Australian Para-cycling team, with Australia going on to win 3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal on the cycling track.
The 5000m was Madison De Rozario’s event, where she added another medal to her collection finishing in third. Madi then qualified for the 1500m final, where she came in fifth after avoiding a mid-race crash. Her campaign will conclude with the marathon on Sunday, September 8th at 4.15pm, where Madi is heavily backed for an impressive finish.
Chris Bond and the Steelers have wrapped up their campaign with a bronze medal. The steelers had a rough campaign with a few early losses which led them to face off Great Britain in the bronze medal match, where they defeated them 50-48 to claim the bronze medal. The match was on from the hit-off with the scores locked at every break. Australia captain and Harvey Norman ambassador Chris Bond told reporters ‘It was nice to win convincingly in the final minute’.
Harvey Norman employee Rheed McCracken made the final of the men’s 100m T34, coming 2nd in his heat. Rheed then put in an amazing effort to come 4th in the final! Rheed has one more event coming up, the 800m, with he final being held on the 7th of September at 9.30pm.
All of Australia’s medals have been amazing, but there was definitely a standout in the 34 points mixed 4x100m relay. The race started with the Dutch pulling away, Australia kept a steady pace, holding 5th place until Alexa Leary jumped in the pool, motoring past every competitor in front of her to touch the wall in first.
In Boccia, Aussie stars Daniel Michel and Jamieson Leeson won Paralympic silver in their respective categories. Michel won bronze at the Tokyo games and went one medal better in Paris. Leeson is the first Australian female to win a Paralympic Boccia Medal.
In the wheelchair basketball, unfortunately the Australian Rollers were defeated by the rampant Great Britain in the quarter final, ending their hopes of a medal in Paris. The campaign didn’t go as plan, with the Rollers losing their first two games of the tournament against Netherlands and Spain. Aside from the results there are positive for the Rollers, with some high-quality contributions coming from their younger players such as Eithen Leard and Jaylen Brown. There is a lot of talent and quality coming through which shows very positive signs for future Paralympic Games and Wheelchair Basketball tournaments.
There are still 5 days to go until the closing ceremony, keep an eye out for all the Paralympics action on Channel 9 and 9 now! Click here to check out the remaining competition schedule: https://www.paralympic.org.au/paris2024/schedule/