3 minute read
Callum Simpson has struck gold twice in his first Paralympics on a day when all of Australia's medals came from the pool.
HOW AUSTRALIA FARED ON DAY NINE OF THE 2024 PARIS PARALYMPICS:
GOLD
Callum Simpson (swimming, S8 100m freestyle) - The 17-year-old looks set to become a real star of the future building towards the Brisbane Games in 2032. Simpson led after 50m but had to summon all his might to beat American Noah Jaffe by 0.02secs. Simpson had already won gold as part of Australia's relay team.
Ben Hance (swimming, men's S14 100m backstroke) - After smashing the world record with a time of 56.52secs, Hance paid tribute to his late father, who died earlier this year. After his medal ceremony, Hance ran down the side of the pool at La Defense Arena waving the Australian flag and hyping up the crowd.
SILVER
Tim Hodge (swimming, men's S9 100m butterfly) - Hodge has cemented his standing as a star of the Australian swim team with two golds acquired earlier at this Games. Finished some way off Italy's Simone Barlaam but leaves Paris with his stock incredibly high.
BRONZE
Lewis Bishop (men's S9 100m butterfly) - The 19-year-old, who lost his leg age 10 in Papua New Guinea, was last at the turn but powered home to podium alongside Hodge at his first Games.
Tom Gallagher (swimming, men's S10 backstroke) - Gallagher showed an incredible burst of speed in the final 25m to edge out Italy's Ricciardo Menciotti to a spot on the podium. His medal adds to a 50m freestyle gold and a 100m freestyle bronze won earlier in the Games.
Emily Beecroft (swimming, women's S9 100m butterfly) - The 24-year-old had only previously won medals as part of a relay team but has finally got an individual gong.
Rachael Watson (swimming, women's S4 50m freestyle) - Watson came fourth in her race but was given a medal after Brazilian Patricia do Santons was disqualified for a false start.
WHAT ELSE HAPPENED
*Athletics - Annabelle Colman made an impressive Paralympic debut, finishing fourth in the 1500m T20 with a personal best and new Oceania record of 4:31.54.
* Cycling - Alistair Donohoe raised hopes of a gold medal with a powerful start in the men's C4-5 road race but he faded away to finish sixth. Fellow Australian Korey Boddington did not finish. In the women's C4-5 road race, Alana Forster was the best-performing Australian crossing the line in seventh spot.
* Canoe - Australian team co-captain Curtis McGrath breezed through both of his heats to qualify for the final of the va'a single 200m VL3 and the KL2 200m. Australia's Dylan Littlehales also won his heat to reach the KL3 final.
* Table tennis - Lina Lei is through to the semi-finals of another Paralympic Games. The 11-time medallist beat Turkey's Neslihan Kavas 3-0 and faces Xiong Guiyan of China as she hunts for a place in the gold medal (S9) match.
WHO SAID WHAT?
"It is a gift, it's a piece of art that binds Italy and France. When I choose an eye mask, there is always a link between Italy and the host country." - Italian shot putter (F12) Assunta Legnante after winning gold with an eye mask sporting the eyes of Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
MEDAL TABLE (day nine)
1. China - Gold: 83, Silver: 64, Bronze 41. Total: 188.
2. Great Britain - Gold: 42, Silver: 34, Bronze 24. Total: 100.
3. USA - Gold: 31, Silver: 36, Bronze 19. Total: 86.
4. Netherlands - Gold: 24, Silver: 14, Bronze 10. Total: 48.
**
9. Australia - Gold: 16, Silver: 13, Bronze 23. Total: 52.
