Paris 2024: Sherman Guity wins battle of blade runners at Stade de France

Sherman Isidro Guity Guity had the self-belief coming into the men’s 100m T64 finals and the cheering crowd at the Stade de France just doubled it - motivativing him to clinch first Paralympic gold medal at the Stade de France on Monday evening (2 September).

A tight race was expected after Italy's Maxcel Amo Manu broke the Paralympic record in the heat on Sunday to go with an already star-studded line-up waiting. But the Costa Rican overcome all these and won it in style - setting a new Games record with 10.65. Amo Manu (10.76) eventually finished in second place followed by the Tokyo 2020 champion Felix (10.77)

“I am very happy with this result. I didn’t expect it. I ran against very strong athletes. It was a Paralympic final and I had to give it my all. I am very happy with the result. It is my favourite race."

“I hope the country is happy and content with this result,” said Guity Guity who has a world title and Parapan Games gold in the category.

Meanwhile, Streng admitted that it wasn't the best of his races today.

"Sprinting is like art, I think, but it definitely wasn’t a masterpiece today,” he said after adding a sixth Paralympic Games medal to his glittering collection.

In the other big race of the evening, USA's Ezra Frech pulled off a sensational victory in the men’s 100m T63. The USA athlete leaped ahead in the final 10 minutes to win it in 12.06 seconds. 

 "I’m quite shocked. I’m still taking it in right now. I was definitely not expecting to go out there and win. I knew I could, but I have high jump tomorrow and that’s where my focus has been," said Frech after winning his first Paralymics medal. 

Sumit wins it again

Meanwhile, Indian star Sumit Antil  stamped his dominance in men's javelin throw F64 yet again , this time at the Stade de France. His first throw of 69.11 improved his own Paralympic record before he came back to better it again, with an impressive 70.59 for the gold. 

Sri Lanka's Dulan Kodithuwakku finished second but achieved a world record with his throw of 67.03 in F44 category.

"I feel fantastic. The crowd was awesome, and It was a totally different experience for me than Tokyo (2020). I’ve never competed in front of a crowd of such size. I was a bit nervous at first seeing the crowd, but the crowd got me motivated more," said Sumit who also holds the world record in the category.

Among other medallists of the evening: Brazil's Tokyo 2020 champion Elizabeth Rodrigues Gomes's effort of 17.37m was a new Games record in the women's discus throw F53 final.     

Overall, seven Paralympic champions were awarded in the evening.

Here's all the medallist of day four evening sessio at the Stade de France.

Men's Javelin Throw F64 Final
Gold: Sumit (IND)
Silver: Dulan Kodithuwakku (SRI)
Bronze: Michal Burian (AUS)

Women's Discus Throw F53 Final
Gold: Elizabeth Rodrigues Gomes (BRA)
Silver: Keiko Onidani (JPN)
Brnze: Zoia Ovsii (UKR)

Men's 100m - T35 Final
Gold: Ihor Tsvietov (UKR)
Silver: Artem Kalashian (NPA)
Bronze: Dmitrii Safronov (NPA)

Men's Long Jump T36 Final
Gold: Evgenii Torsunov (NPA)
Silver: Aser Mateus Almeida Ramos (BRA)
Brzone: Oleksandr Lytvynenko (UKR)

Men's 100m T63 Final
Gold: Ezra Frech (USA)
Silver: Daniel Wagner (DEN)
Bronze: Vinicius Goncalves Rodrigues (BRA)

Men's 100m T64 Final
Gold: Sherman Isidro Guity Guity (CRC)
Silver: Maxcel Amo Manu (ITA)
Bronze: Felix Streng (GER)

Men's Shot Put F11 Final
Gold: Amirhossein Alipour Darbeid (IRI)
Silver: Mahdi Olad (IRI)
Bronze: Alvaro del Amo Cano (ESP)