Paris 2024: Best Para swimming moments
China's Jiang Yuyan, known as the ‘Flying Fish’, bagged seven golds at the Paris 2024 Paralympics Italy finished third in the Para swimming medals table behind Great Britain and China Ugo Didier claimed the host country’s first gold medal of the Games, winning the men’s 400m freestyle S9 final 23 Sep 2024
The 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
China's Jiang Yuyan, known as the ‘Flying Fish’, bagged seven golds at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. She captured her final gold of Paris 2024 in the women's 100m backstroke S6 final, finishing ahead of reigning champion Elizabeth Marks of the USA in La Defense Arena pool.
"I feel so proud. The whole Games for me at Paris 2024 has been a perfect experience," she said. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Jiang's debut, she took home four medals, two of which were gold. Her Paris 2024 performance has shown how much she's developed in the years in between.
"The three years of preparation for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games have been a strong foundation for me... gave me more confidence and experience for these Games. It made sure that I can do well in every race," Jiang said.
The only events Jiang did not win gold in were the 200m individual medley, with a disqualification due to a referee’s ruling, and the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay where China came 6th.
Biggest surprise
Italy finished third in the Para swimming medals table with 11 gold, four silver and 13 bronzes, three years after finishing fifth at Tokyo 2020. Stefano Raimondi and Simone Barlaam led Italy’s campaign at La Defense Arena. Raimondi took five golds and a silver, while Barlaam had three golds and a silver.
Barlaam, who was competing at his second Games, lso got to compete, and win, in front of an orthopaedic surgeon who performed a “miracle” surgery to save the swimmer’s foot. Barlaam, who was born with a congenital condition which resulted in an under-developed right leg, was just 10 years old when he travelled to Paris and met Professor Philippe Wicart.
"Incredible, incredible. Thinking that 12 or 13 years ago, I was here in this very city, with him, in a very different location. It feels very surreal,” Barlaam said after winning the men’s 100m butterfly S9 race.
"This looks like an ending - not an ending because it's not the end - of a movie, a perfect movie. I would have never imagined even in the best scenarios this kind of thing. He performed a miracle. He saved my leg and he fixed me in every sense."
Home hero
Ugo Didier claimed the host country’s first gold medal of the Games, winning the men’s 400m freestyle S9 final. He touched the wall ahead of Italian superstar Simone Barlaam.
Didier competed in four more medal events, sending the home crowd wild each time he entered the swimming arena. The crowd chanted his name and held posters and flags to show their support. He won two more silver medals.
"It was unbelievable, the cheering for me helped me a lot,” Didier said after winning gold on 29 August. “I don't think I could have done it without the crowd.
"I have just seen my family and friends happy with me, happy with the results. That is what makes me happy, more than the gold medal. These are happy tears. It's been hard and now it's over. The pressure is falling off.
"I think I will never swim with that type of crowd again."
