Top 24 moments from the Paris 2024 Paralympics (1-12)

As the end of the year approaches, now is the perfect time to go back and relive the 10 days of incredible competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Join us as we share our top moments from the Games. What is your favourite pick?

Check out our top 13-24 moments.

 

12. "Pele of the Pools” wins the hearts of French public

Brazil’s Para swimming icon Gabriel Araujo captured the hearts of the French public as he cruised to three gold medals at La Defense Arena. Dubbed the “Pele of the Pools” by French media, he is now a household name in the host country.

 

Araujo, known at home as Gabrielzinho, charmed the crowd with his remarkable performances in the pool, his infectious smile, and dance moves on the podium. He topped the podium in the men’s 200m freestyle S2, 50m backstroke S2, and 100m backstroke S2.

During the Closing Ceremony, Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet said Araujo “changed how we think about difference and sent out a powerful message to all people with disabilities: sport is for you too.”

Speaking on French television, Araujo said, “The warmth and affection I received from the French fans made me feel like I’m leaving not just with the medals I won in the pool, but with a fourth medal for the incredible experiences I had in Paris.”

 

 

11. Saysunee Jana unbeaten on the piste

Thai Paralympic legend Saysunee Jana was unbeaten on the piste, becoming the first female wheelchair fencer to complete a sweep of all three individual events at one edition of the Games. Competing at her sixth Paralympics, Jana won the women’s sabre, foil and epee category B events at the Grand Palais.

 

“I’m very happy. I knew I had to do the best I could in what I knew,” she said. “I didn’t hope to win three times because all my opponents were very strong and it was a tough match.

Jana said that her triple gold medal – in addition to the six medals she had before traveling to Paris – will help her cement her status as the “queen of fencing” in Thailand.

“Fencing is my life. Fencing changed my life. It changed my life from not having a lot to having a family, to changing everything.”

 

 

10. Katherinne Wollermann makes splash with Para canoe gold

Katherinne Wollermann plunged into the water after finishing her race at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. She did the same three years later at Paris 2024 - but this time, upgraded her bronze to gold. It was Chile's first-ever Para canoe gold medal.

In the women’s kayak single 200m KL1 final at the Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium, she finished the race with a Paralympic Games Best of 51.95 seconds, followed by Ukraine’s Maryna Mazhula and Germany’s Edina Mueller.

Wollermann trimmed nearly four seconds from her result at Tokyo 2020.

“I cannot even describe how I’m feeling right now,” Wollermann told the International Canoe Federation after receiving her gold medal.

“I’ve been fighting for this for 10 years now, I’m extremely happy to have this in my hand.”

 

 

9. Rihards Snikus rides to double Para equestrian glory

Latvia’s Rihards Snikus won his first Paralympic medal at his fourth Games. And the Para equestrian rider did not go home with one gold, but he took two.

 

Competing at the iconic Chateau de Versailles, Snikus rode ‘King Of The Dance’ to gold in the individual Grade I event on 3 September, three days before he topped the podium again in the individual freestyle Grade I event.

Snikus, who has competed at every Games since London 2012, became the first Para equestrian gold medallist from Latvia.

 

 

8. Mariam Eniola Bolaji makes badminton history for Africa

When Mariam Eniola Bolaji defeated Oksana Kozyna to clinch bronze in the women’s Para badminton SL3 at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, she created history not just for herself and her country Nigeria, but also for an entire continent.

 

Bolaji became the first African player, male or female, to win a badminton medal at either the Olympic or Paralympic Games. She beat Kozyna 21-9, 21-9 in the bronze medal match, creating one of the top moments from the Games.

“I feel so good, so nice,” Bolaji said. “I’ve been breaking records since 2021 and I’m continuing to do that for Africans in Para badminton.

“I played very well. I really trained for it, and I’m happy that I can make my dreams come true. I wanted the gold medal, but I still thank God for making me make history. I hope other people in Africa will be inspired by this and come to Para badminton now.”

 

 

7. China’s Guo Jincheng swims to four golds

China’s Guo Jincheng shot to stardom at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, swimming to four golds and two silvers on his Games debut. Guo, an armless swimmer who competed without wearing goggles or a swim cap, helped China finish atop the Para swimming medals tally with 22 gold, 21 silver and 11 bronze medals.

 

Jiang Yuyan, known at home as ‘The Flying Fish’ led the way with seven gold medals.

“I feel so proud. The whole Games for me at Paris 2024 has been a perfect experience," Jiang said. “The three years of preparation for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games have been a strong foundation for me...gave me more confidence and experience of these Games. It made sure that I can do well in every race.”

 

 

6. India’s Sheetal Devi claims bronze on Paralympic debut

India’s Para archery star Sheetal Devi overcame the fear and pressure of competing at the third biggest sporting event in the world, collecting a bronze medal in the mixed compound open team event on her Paralympic debut.

 

It was India’s first Para archery medal of Paris 2024.

“The experience of playing at the Paralympics was amazing. It was my first Games and the feeling of winning a medal for my nation was great,” said Devi, who was born without arms and competes using her feet.

India finished 18th on the overall medals table with 29 medals – seven golds, nine silvers and 13 bronzes, in what turned out to be their most successful Paralympic campaign. Harvinder Singh claimed the country’s first-ever gold medal in Para archery, topping the podium in the men’s individual recurve open.

 

 

5. Aurelie Aubert becomes France’s first Paralympic boccia champion

Aurelie Aubert became one of the biggest stars of the Paris 2024 Paralympics both on and off the boccia court. She won the women’s individual BC1 tournament and captured France’s first ever Paralympic gold medal in boccia. Less than a week later, she was back in the spotlight, extinguishing the Paralympic Flame during the Closing Ceremony.

 

In front of thousands at the Stade de France – and perhaps millions watching on TV and on the Internet, she blew out the flame in a lantern that her teammates held. This closed the curtain on the first summer Paralympic Games in France.

“For me, the French crowd also played an important role; they gave me strength. Even though during the first match I struggled to stay in my bubble while hearing the cheers, I enjoyed it afterwards,” Aubert recalled. “I felt like everyone knew me, whereas until then I had been in the shadows.”

“My life has changed in the sense that I am recognised on the street. I have responded to many requests, participated in TV shows, and met with other athletes, both able-bodied and disabled.

 

 

4. Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole capture Africa’s first wheelchair tennis medal

Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole became the first wheelchair tennis players from Africa to win a medal at the Paralympic Games. The South African duo beat Brazil’s Leandro Pena and Ymanitu SIlva 6-2, 4-6, 10-8 in the quad doubles bronze medal match.

“This is my best moment,” Ramphadi told the International Tennis Federation. “It is always a big deal for me to carry the nation’s flag on my shoulders, and to put South Africa on the Paralympic wheelchair tennis map, I will never, ever stop being proud of this moment. I will talk about it until my last day.”

Dutch pair Sam Schroder and Niels Vink defeated Great Britain’s Andy Lapthorne and Gregory Slade in straight sets to win their second consecutive quad doubles title.

 

 

3. Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis-Woodhall become golden couple of Paris 2024

Paralympic sprinter Hunter Woodhall won the men’s 400m T62 final at the Stade de France, claiming his first Paralympic gold medal just weeks after his wife, Tara Davis-Woodhall won the women’s long jump at the Olympic Games.

 

After crossing the finish line, the Team USA athlete found Tara in the crowd. In early August, it was Hunter cheering on Tara, as she won gold. They've since become known as the golden couple of Paris 2024, making headlines around the world.

“Quite a few people have told us that we have made a really special moment in the Games,” said Hunter.

“We’re really trying not to read too much into it, we’re trying to be ourselves and we’re just so grateful that we get to share the sport that we love so much with so many new people and we hope that people have felt a little bit of the emotions that we’ve felt over the past month.”

 

 

2. Zakia Khudadadi wins the Refugee Paralympic Team’s first medal

Zakia Khudadadi made history in Paris by winning the first-ever medal for the Refugee Paralympic Team. She earned bronze in Para taekwondo women’s K44 –47kg category on 29 August, the first day of competition at the Paralympics.

 

Khudadadi is aiming for more in four years’ time.

“I’m so, so happy. For me, this medal is a dream. Today, I am in a dream,” said Khudadadi, who was making her second Paralympic appearance. “I won the bronze medal today, and I am the first female Paralympic refugee, an Afghan, to win a bronze medal. This, for me, is like life. I’m here to continue for gold in Los Angeles.

In Para athletics, Guillaume Junior Atangana took bronze in the men’s T11 400m with guide Donard Ndim Nyamjua for the Refugee Paralympic Team’s second medal in Paris. Eight refugee athletes competed in the French capital.

 

 

1. France win historic blind football gold in front of the Eiffel Tower

Under the bright lights of the Eiffel Tower, French dreams were realised as they won their first ever Paralympic blind football gold medal. The hosts beat Argentina 3-2 on penalties, with Frederic Villeroux scoring the winner in the shootout following a 1-1 draw in regular time.

 

France became only the second team to top the Paralympic podium and celebrated with the thousands of spectators who cheered for them in the final on 7 September. Argentina defeated five-time champions Brazil in the semifinals to set up a meeting with the hosts.

“It felt like the script of a film,” Villeroux said after the gold medal match. “I normally don't take penalty kicks. It's not my thing. But today the coach came to talk to me and said it was my time. I feel so great I managed to score that goal.” 

The French team have since gained a lot of attention at home and beyond. Players made an appearance on the red carpet at Ballon d’Or Ceremony in October.