Fleur Jong jumps for golden glory on day two

The National Olympic Stadium saw a new Dutch Paralympic star and a Paralympic legend in action amongst the medallists in eight finals on Saturday morning (28 August).

Fleur Jong from the Netherlands continued her world record-breaking exploits of 2021 in the women’s long jump T64 to take the gold medal with a leap of 6.16 metres. 

France’s defending champion Marie-Amelie Le Fur had to settle for silver (6.11m). The Dutch also took the bronze with Marlene van Gansewinkel (5.78m).

“It means a lot to me. This is my first Paralympic medal - a gold right away and in my favourite event,” Jong said. 

"To be on the stage with Marie-Amelie Le Fur, is great. I’m happy we both jumped 6m, that’s what we’re worth."

Le Fur, also the President of the French Paralympic Committee, announced her retirement after Tokyo 2020.

“This is the end of my career,” the 32-year-old said. “The last year has been very hard and very stressful especially the last few months.

“The time has come to finish it here in Tokyo. I’m proud to do so with this performance and with these extraordinary girls. There are no regrets.”

McFadden returns to the podium

USA’s Tatyana McFadden took her incredible Paralympic Games medal collection to 18 with a battling bronze in the women’s 5000m T54 (11:15.13).

The wheelchair racing legend did not get the eighth gold medal that she was hoping for as teammate Susannah Scaroni saw her bold early attack pay off with a stunning victory (10:52.57).

But after struggling with a blood clot problem that put her career at risk, McFadden was delighted to add to that medal haul.

“I felt like I won a gold today,” said McFadden, who has at least four more events to come. “Back in 2017 I couldn’t even sit in my chair for 30 minutes. 

“The clots were so bad they were travelling throughout my body and we had to stop that and figure out that my vessels to my main arteries clogged. 

“It took time for my body to find a new norm and rebuild the strength. It’s really quite amazing that I’m here, on the podium, top three in the world.”

Scaroni paid tribute to her training parter after triumphing and taking the 32-year-old's Paralympic Games record.

“I told Tatyana already: nothing that happens today will erase the amazing achievements she has done,” said Scaroni. “This is no interpretation of how she is as an athlete - she is still the best.”

Switzerland’s world record holder Manuela Schaer picked the silver (11:00.50).

Paralympic champions defend their gold

Spain and Uzbekistan both struck double gold on the second morning of competition.

Kim Lopez defended his Rio 2016 title in style setting a new world record in the men’s shot put F12 (17.04m). The other Spanish gold in the morning came with Yassine El Ataby beating world champion Jaryd Clifford from Australia in the men’s 5000m T13 (14:34.13).

Another Rio 2016 Paralympic champion who successfully defended the gold in the morning session was Nozimakhon Kayumova in the women’s javelin F13 (42.59m). 

Mokhigul Khamdamova gave Uzbekistan their second gold of the day in the women’s discus F57 with a 31.46m-throw. 

China and RPC also top the podium on Saturday morning with Cuiqing Liu taking her second consecutive Paralympic title in the women’s 400m T11 (56.25) and Aleksandr Iaremchuk in the men’s 1500m T46 (3:52.08), respectively.

Complete results from the morning session can be found on Paralympic.org.