Paris 2024: Big moments on Day 6
Para athletics star James Turner smashes world record on way to gold in the men's 400m T36 Park Jinho collects second shooting Para sport gold of Paris 2024 in R7 men’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 Argentina storm into blind football semi-finals as they continue quest to best Brazil 03 Sep 2024
As the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games continue, we're bringing you the cannot-miss sport updates and behind the scenes magic moments. Follow for updates throughout the day.
Records tumble in Para athletics
Another day of pulsating action at the Stade de France saw more world records broken, with Australia’s James Turner winning the men’s 400m T36 final in 51.54 seconds
He edged out New Zealander William Stedman, whose personal best 52.92 was enough for silver. Argentina’s Alexis Sebastian Chavez took bronze.
“To be able to bring this home for the team is just amazing,” Turner said. “That has to be the best I’ve ever run. It wasn’t effortless even if it looked like it.
"It’s a lot of hard work. You have to do the right process and belief in that is what gets you across the line.
“Did I think this would happen? I had my doubts. I had glandular fever earlier in the year and I got quite sick and wasn’t able to train.
“I had to change all my (training) programme just to make it here. So, to be standing here with a world record is amazing.”
Brazil’s Yeltsin Jacques also won the Men’s 1500 T11 final in a world record time of 3:55:82.
Full Paris 2024 Para athletics schedule and results
Para equestrian royalty crowned at Versailles
Chateau de Versailles served as a stunning backdrop for Para equestrian competition, which got underway on 3 September.
With two golds and a silver, it proved to be a big day for the USA. Competing at her fifth Paralympics, Rebecca Hart won her maiden gold – and the first gold of Paris 2024 – aboard Florantina in the individual Grade III event.
“It's been 25 years of trying to get to this point and being close many, many times," Hart said.
"To actually get it, I feel like I'm going to wake up at any moment. It's just surreal. It feels like a dream. It’s my first individual medal ever at the Paralympics, and it's the gold. It's surreal.”
Team USA’s Fiona Howard topped the podium in the Grade II, and after finishing with a silver at Tokyo 2020, Latvia’s Rihards Snikus went one better with gold in Grade I.
Full Paris 2024 Para equestrian schedule and results
Park seals second shooting Para sport gold
Korea's Park Jinho secured his second gold medal of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the R7 Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1 final at Chateauroux Shooting Centre.
Park said: “I was feeling way more nervous than when I won my (other) gold this week. I still don’t believe this is happening.
“I was waiting a long time to win a gold medal in the Paralympics. Now with my second medal, I think of everyone who has helped me.”
Full Paris 2024 shooting Para sport schedule and results
Wheelchair fencers take spotlight at Grand Palais
Wheelchair fencers were welcomed by a sell-out crowd on the first day of competition at the Grand Palais. Spectators cheered for French athletes including Maxime Valet and Cecile Demaude.
Refugee Paralympic Team’s Amelio Castro made his Paralympic debut.
“It's a wonderful experience being able to represent those who do not have a voice and lend them my voice.
"It's an answered prayer that I had to be here in the Paralympics, and it's amazing to be able to represent so many refugees around the world,” he said.
Full Paris 2024 wheelchair fencing schedule and results
Argentina into blind football semis
Argentina's bid to end Brazil's all-conquering blind football reign saw them move into the semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Japan.
Osvaldo Fernandez's first half goal proved decisive in booking his side's last four spot after they drew their opening two games 0-0.
Fernandez said: "This is only my second international goal and for it to have come in such an important match, with everything that was at stake, it's incredible.
"We never gave up, we left yesterday after our 0-0 draw against Colombia, and we were devastated and angry, because we thought we dominated the game, but we just couldn't score a goal.
"Now we are likely to play against Brazil and those games are always special. They are different from anything else. Those games are played more with the heart than with anything else."
Brazil face China in their final group game tonight. Earlier today Colombia completed their unbeaten group stage with a 1-0 win over Morocco which sees them finish top of Group B.
Full Paris 2024 blind football schedule and results
Germany book wheelchair basketball last four
Germany toppled Spain in the quarter finals of the men's wheelchair basketball, winning 57-49.
Thomas Boehme top scored with 26 points, added to by Aliaksandr Halouski’s 15 to overpower a Spain side led by Ignacio Ortega, who scored 21 points.
"We just have to bring the same energy, same hard defence," said Boehme.
"It was a super intense game, a physical game, but we played great defence. We protected the paint - we did that quite well today. I think that's why we got the win."
Full Paris 2024 wheelchair basketball schedule and results
Hosts thrashed in goalball
The People’s Republic of China beat hosts France 12-2 in the women’s goalball, reaching the semi-finals.
It was a relatively tight affair at half time, with the score at 3-0, but then The People’s Republic of China scored nine times to reach the last four.
They will meet Canada after a comfortable 5-1 win over Israel in their last eight clash.
