Paris 2024: Rattana dethrones Ktila as new Paralympic champion

The Stade de France witnessed a new champion emerging from Thailand on Monday morning (2 September).

Chaiwat Rattana dethroned Tunisia's three-time defending champion Walid Ktila as the new Paralympic champion in men's 100m T34 on day four of Para athletics competition at Paris 2024 Games.  

Inspired by Thai wheelchair racing legend Prawat Wahoram, Rattana touched the finish line in 14.76 for a Games record and 0.38 seconds ahead of Ktila in a fascinating final. 

“It was a great race. I can’t believe I have won the gold medal. It is what I’ve always wanted," said the 28-year-old Thai athlete who won his first 100m T34 gold at Asian Para Games 2018 and followed it up at Paris 2023 Worlds.

“It is an honour to win the gold for Thailand.”

Ktila, also the current world record holder, admittted that he had difficulty during the race but fought until the end. “That’s sport. In the future, I will be going to retake my gold medal at the world championships, I hope next year.” 

Records for Ethiopia, Brazil

There was also a new world record morning session when Ethiopia's Yayesh Gate Tesfaw along with her guide Kindu Sisay Girma improved her world record (set at Kobe 2024) and took the gold medal racing in 4:27.68 at the women’s 1500m T11 final. 

“I am so happy. First I carried the flag (at the Opening Ceremony) and now I have the gold and a world record.

“I knew I had the world record already and I am happy to break it again. I needed to do it again. It means even more to do it here, in the Paralympic arena and at the Paralympic Games of Paris 2024," said Girma who won her first Paralympic gold at Stade de France on Monday morning.

¡ORO PARA MÉXICO! 🇲🇽✨

🇲🇽Gloria Zarza wins the first gold medal for Mexico at @paris2024!
🥇in the women's shot put F54

🥈Elizabeth Rodrigues🇧🇷
🥉Nurkhon Kubanova🇺🇿#ParaAthletics @COPAME @CONADE @ParalympicsAmPC pic.twitter.com/WKoJfvspVg

— Para Athletics (@ParaAthletics) September 2, 2024

Mexico get 1st gold 

Brazil's Tokyo 2020 champion Elizabeth Rodrigues Gomes claimed the world record in women's shot put F53 with an effort of 7.82, even as Gloria Zarza Guadarrama won Mexico's first gold medal in any sport at Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

This was Zarza Guadarrama's first Paralympic gold medal and getting it in Paris makes it all the more special. "I feel very happy, this is something I have dreamed about. And more than anything, to be able to win the first gold for Mexico in this Paralympic Games, makes me happy twice," said the 59-year-old.  

"This medal has a big value because a year ago during the world championships, I was disqualified here in France. I wanted to prove myself.” 

Among other medallists in the morning session, Brazil's Claudiney Batista dos Santos clinched his third successive gold medal in men's discus throw F56 final with a Paralympic record throw of 46.86. 

Likewise, Uzbekistan's Bobirjon Omonov defended his men's shot put F41 gold with a Paralympic record throw of 14.32.

Medallists from day four of Para athletics competitions at Stade de France.

Men's Long Jump T12 Final
Gold: Said Najafzade (AZE)
Silver: Doniyor Saliev (UZB)
Bronze: Fernando Vazquez (ARG)

Men's Discus Throw F56 Final
Gold: Claudiney Batista dos Santos (BRA)
Silver: Yogesh Kathuniya (IND)
Bronze: Konstantinos Tzounis (GRE)

Women's 1500m T11 Final
Gold: Yayesh Gate Tesfaw (ETH)
Silver: Shanshan He (CHN)
Bronze: Louzanne Coetzee (RSA)

Women's Shot Put F54 Final
Gold: Gloria Zarza Guadarrama (MEX)
Silver: Elizabeth Rodrigues Gomes (BRA)
Bronze: Nurkhon Kurbanova (UZB)

Men's 100m T34 Final
Gold: Chaiwat Rattana (THA)
Silver: Walid Ktila (TUN)
Bronze: Austin Smeenk (CAN)

Men's Shot Put F41 Final
Gold: Bobirjon Omonov (UZB)
Silver: Niko Kappel (GER)
Bronze: Jun Huang (CHN)