Paris 2024: Best goalball moments
Turkiye became the first team to win three golds in a row in the women's competition Japan made history by winning their first gold medal in the men's tournament France made their Paralympic debuts in goalball, competing in front of a packed home crowd at the South Paris Arena 15 Oct 2024The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games were packed with memorable moments, including athletic feats and historic firsts, that took place at stunning venues in front of a vocal crowd.
We will share three moments from each sport that made the Games very special.
Top moment
Turkiye became the first team to win three golds in a row in the women's competition. Turkiye beat Israel 8-3 in the women's goalball gold medal match at South Paris Arena 6.
Sevda Altunoluk is the only athlete to compete at three Paralympic Games, leading the team to gold each time. She threw four of the team's eight goals in the gold medal match.
"Three finals, three championships, three gold medals," Altunoluk said. "I can't explain my feelings because I am so happy, and the feeling is so deep."
"I actually knew we were going to become the champions yesterday (after beating Brazil in the semifinal). Even when the tournament started we all knew we had the chance to become the champions."
China took bronze after beating Brazil 6-0 in the bronze medal match.
Biggest surprise
Japan defeated Ukraine in overtime to claim their first gold medal in the men's tournament. Yuto Sano scored the winning goal in their 4-3 victory in overtime.
"This is the happiest moment in my life. Once we return to Japan, people will congratulate us and tell us, 'You did it all.' That's great," Sano said.
"I studied goalball when I was in a school for the blind. It wasn't popular, even at the school, but this gold medal may change that situation. I expect it to become more popular in the future."
The Japanese men's team finished fifth on their Paralympic debut three years ago in Tokyo. They advanced to the finals in Paris by beating the USA in the quarterfinals and Tokyo 2020 silver medallists China in the semifinals.
Koji Miyajiki and Kazuya Kaneko gave Japan an early 2-0 lead, but Ukraine's Anton Strelchyk and Vasyl Oliinkyk tied the scoring in the first half. Sano put Japan ahead again in the second half. But Strelchyk tied the game with less than three minutes remaining, forcing the game into overtime.
"When we finished the game, I didn't know what was going on. But once we got the gold medals in our hands, I realised that this is the end of the tournament and that we got the gold medal," said Miyajiki, who also competed at Tokyo 2020.
"When we go back to Japan, goalball will be more popular. We will have more players in Japan, so I expect our team to become much, much stronger. That's what I expect for the future."
The bronze medal went to Brazil, who beat China 5-3 in the bronze medal match.
Home hero
France made their Paralympic debuts in goalball, competing in front of a packed home crowd at the South Paris Arena.
In the men's tournament, France beat Egypt 6-4 to end their first Paralympic Games on a winning note. With their first-ever Paralympic win, France finished seventh in the eight-team tournament. Nabil Baich and Kada Boualia each scored two goals for the hosts.
A first-ever win for France in Paralympic Goalball!
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) September 3, 2024
What an achievement! 🇫🇷
They've got the ball rolling; how many more games can they win at Paris 2024? 👀#Paralympics | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/8HfFGhIpSQ
"I'm really proud to represent France. I was born here, and I was raised here. My parents come from Algeria but France raised me and raised me with goalball, and it's really incredible to represent France," Boualia said after France's 12-2 defeat to China in the quarterfinals.
Asked what he wants to say to the French fans, the 36-year-old athlete said, "I want to say thank you so much. You support has been incredible, it has helped us even in the hard moments. I just want to say long live France and long live goalball."
France were eighth in the women's tournament after losing to the Republic of Korea in an overtime thriller.