So all that remains is for me to share this final collection of beautiful photographs:
And to say thanks so much for your company over the last 11 days. Join us again around 6pm BST for the closing ceremony, but otherwise, it’s been emotional so emotional it’s been hard not to snivel incessantly for the last week and a half. Peace out.
That, then, completes the competition at the 2024 Paralympic Games. What a total joy it’s been; what an honour and privilege it is to bring them to you.
Ahmad Aminzadeh of Iran wins gold in the men's over 170kg powerlifting
Silver goes to Anton Kriukov of Ukraine and bronze to Akaki Jintcharadze of Georgia.
Aminzadeh goes at 263kg, he nails it, and he is a magnificent athlete and technician. He makes winning gold look hilariously easy.
It’s so lovely to hear McGarry, who says the people here supporting him are the people who supported him after his spinal injury when he didn’t want to live anymore. No medal can compare to the feelings he’s feeling right now, overwhelmed and proud, and he thanks the National Lottery for giving him a second chance at life. There’s something bigger than accolades and medals in this life, and that’s the relationships you build with people,”he says, once again referencing the ned of his life when he hurt his spine seven years go. “You have to be a good person over everything … and that’s why this crowd is full of people cheering my name.” Yes, Liam.
Yes, Anton Kriukov! The man who won’t shave from at least a month before he competes slides up 251 and he takes silver; the gold belongs to Aminzadeh.
Fantastic behaviour from Jintcharadze, who bangs up 250 to once again take second place. Kriukov will try for 251 to shove him back down to bronze…
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Mena Lemus, who’s appealed successfully in both rounds so far, is red-lighted for his effort at 237, but this tie the appeal is rejected, meaning Jintcharadze, Kruikov and Aminzadeh are our medalists. But in what order?
Mosaad of Egypt can’t get up the 237 he hopes will get him into fourth, so McGarry holds on to fifth place, and that’s where he’ll finish. I’m sure he’s delighted.
McGarry, who has loads of supporters in the crowd wearing t-shirts with his face on them, thinks he’s finished with a 228, but two judges think his press sequence was unsatisfactory; the head is happy. So he challenges, the call is reversed, and he goes fifth, absolutely delighted with the state of affairs.
Aminzadeh, though, is a class apart, and he puts 258kg over the knee. It seems inconceivable that anyone will catch him – I doubt anyone even tries. I’d be amazed were the gold medal not to go to Iran.
Elshebli again can’t get up his opening weight of 242, but Jintcharadze manages a massive 244 to leapfrog Kruikov and go into the silver-medal position. The Ukrainian, though, has a chance to regain second spot with the 247 he’s about to attempt … and look at that! Three white lights restore him to second place.
No one gets anything up in round two – so far, we’ve the top three and defending champ still to go: Jintcharadze, Kruikov, Aminzadeh and Elshebli. But as I type, Mena Lemus challenges a verdict and they reverse their call to allow him a 236 lift that doesn’t take him beyond the fourth place he already occupied.
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Liam McGarry returns, getting the crowd going before addressing 228 … and doesn’t he celebrate when he gets it up … only for two refs to decide they don’t like it. His challenge has been rejected.
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The defending champ, Jamil Elshebli of Jordan, opts to start at 242kg … and he can’t get it up. So he’s under even greater pressure when Ahmad Aminzadeh of Iran sorts out 253m a mere 13kg more than his nearest competitor. It’ll take something massive to stop him claiming gold, you’d think.
But Anton Kruikov of Ukraine hoists 240, and this has the makings of a classic contest.
Lovely stuff, Akaki Jintcharadze absolutely creams a lift of 238kg and he now leads, but there are three competitors yet to go…
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Amr Mosaad of Egypt with 227 and Eglain Mena Lemus of Colombia with 232 move above McGarry, wirth more talent to come.
Liam McGarry of GB is second out to go at 220kg … and he absolutely smashes it. He’ll need to improve on that to contest the medals, I’m sure, but that’s a solid start.
“I think I did a lot of ugly crying yesterday,” says Hope Gordon, silver medal winner; Jack Eyers advises that “it’s been epic” and he’s so proud to be here, but jokes that he’s not cooled down yet.
The GB canoe team are in the studio and it’s so great to see them all hanging out, medals around necks. The team spirit looks great and you can tell they’re all buzzing off each other’s successes.
Our competitors are being introduced to the crowd – among them Liam McGarry of Paralympic GB.
I can’t believe I’m typing these words, but we’ve one more event of the Games remaining: the men’s over 107kg powerlifting. We’ll bring you that shortly – it gets going in nine minutes.
Both sides gather, Netherlands to celebrate, USA to commiserate – but like USA, you sense the fight for gold at LA 2028 is beginning in front of our eyes.
The Netherlands beat USA 63-49 to win goal in the women's wheelchair basketball
They retain their title, and USA just couldn’t play well enough for long enough to seriously challenge them.
USA started well, but once Kramer and Beijer got themselves going, it’s been one-way traffic. With 15.4s to go, Kramer is on the bench crying her eyes out, and what a celebration they’ll have tonight.
With 1.46 left in the the fourth, Netherlands lead USA 61-47. And, as I type, Visser scores and at 6-347, this is over.
Yes Folashade! She is so, so good, and she raises 167kg above her head to break her own world record for the second time in five minutes! Fantastic!
Netherlands score again in the basketball to lead USA 59-45 with four minutes to go.
Folashade Oluwafemiayo wins gold for Nigeria in the women's over 86kg powerlifting with a world record 166kg
She retains her title, Deng Xuemei of China taking silver and Nadia Ali of Egypt bronze. But Oluwafemiayo isn’t finished yet, returning for a go at 1kg better in the powerlifting round. Go on Folashade!
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…and she gets two white lights! What a performance to close the women’s powerlifting show!
Back with the powerlifting, Oluwafemiayo, assured of the gold medal, will go for a new world record of 166kg…
The final quarter begins in the basketball and Netherlands lead USA 50-40. They’re so close to another gold.
At the end of the third quarter, the Netherlands lead 48-37. They’re 10 minutes away from retaining the crown the won for the first time in Tokyo.
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Kramer and Beijer have been especially potent since the end of the first quarter. Netherlands took a while to relax and get themselves going, but they look more than nifty now, Kramer getting to her own rebound and it’s now 48-35. This feels very over.
USA move the ball nicely, trailing 35-42 … and they panic under the basket, not even managing a shot. Then, when De Rooij sneaks in a basket and wins a free throw in the process you wonder if this is over; they miss, though, so at 44-35 this is just about alive as a contest.
Here comes Oluwafemiayo to have a hack at a 162kg Games record … and she absolutely takes it off the set! She looks a class above and her world record of 166 is surely under threat
Back at the powerlifting, Xuemei hoists 153 to cement herself in the silver-medal position; Oluwafemiayo of Nigeria still leads with 157kg.
We’re away again in the basketball, Netherlands leading USA 31-26. But can the underdogs get close enough for a final-quarter push?
Oh man, two of the GB men’s basketball team are in the studio, Lee Manning and a teammate – I missed which. But he says he’s been fighting for that moment of making the final for 24 years, his entire life, but to get so close to gold and miss out will hurt for a long time. Other hand, they’ve been getting messages from parents of disabled kids thanking them for their inspiration, and what a feeling that must be.
It’s half-time in the basketball, Netherlands now leading USA 31-24 and you wonder if momentum has irrevocably shifted.
It’s all going on in the powerlifting, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, the Nigerian world record holder, entering the competition with a mere 157kg. Deng Xuemei of China is second on 150, Ali Ndia of Egypt third on 141.
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Netherlands lead 25-22, but USA work it really well and Hollerman scores for 25-24, 2.47 left in the second; the favourites take a timeout.
At the Oval, England are batting in their second inning, 66 runs in front of Sri Lanka…
Kramer nails two free throws and Netherlands leads 21-20; is class starting to tell?
Netherlands storm back at the start of the second quarter; USA now lead 18-17 … nope 20-17. Meantime, Hani Watson of Australia nails 133 in the powerlifting; next best is 121 courtesy of Mexico’s Perla Barcenas Ponce de Leon.
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The women’s over 86kg para powerlifting final has begun, USA’s Ashley Dyce the early leader with 110kg.
USA lead Netherlands 12-8 after the first quarter. On the one hand, the underdog sare ahead; on the other, they might’ve been even further ahead.
The Dutch miss again and they’re 1/10 field-goal attempts. That isn’t sustainable if they want to win here, but USA have looked nervous leaders … however, Gonzalez finishes a break and they lead 12-4 with 46s to so in the first … 12-6.
Netherlands just can’t get themselves lively. They miss when they should score and to my inexpert eyes it looks like they’re using the physical battle … though they score a two for 4-8, USA missing a couple of shots when nicely set.
Is the pressure telling on the Netherlands? USA are dominating territory and leading 8-1, but the favourites have two free throws … and Beijer sinks one.
At 1pm our final powerlifting session begins, the women’s over 86kg and men’s over 107kg closing out the Games. Meantime, US forge further in front in the basketball , Hollerman on absolute flames early doors with 6.13 to go in the first; the Netherlands call a timeout and well they might.
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And we’re just away in the women’s final, USA up 4-0 on Netherlands with two minutes gone. Good start for the underdogs.
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Yesterday’s men’s final was a thriller.
Great news.
While you think about that, please allow me to share some beauty.
So what’s been your favourite moment of the Games? Off the top of my head, Sammi Kinghorn’s T53 100m win takes some beating.
Ten minutes from now, the final of the women’s wheelchair basketball gets under way; Netherlands, the big favourites, take on USA.
We go again!
China have beaten Canada in the bronze-medal match of the women’s wheelchair basketball; coming up at 12.45, we’ve got the final between Netherlands and USA. But with nothing scheduled until then, I’m going to take a little break for half an hour or so – and happily they’re just resuming at the Oval.
Looking again, it wasn’t until the very end that Yepifanov moved past Eyers and it took a Paralympic Record to beat him. A fitting end to our canoeing programme.
Jack Eyers, though. Once a model, now a model and a medalist. He is an absolute monster.
Vladyslav Yepifanov of Ukraine wins gold in the VL3 Va'a single 200m
Jack Eyers of GB takes silver and Peter Cowan of NZ the bronze.
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Now it’s Yepifanov, who comes from behind to lead Eyers, McGrath is nowhere…
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Yepifanov is out quickly but Yi leads and Eyers moves into second then first…
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We’re ready for our VL3 Va’a final, Yepifanov of Ukraine and Mcgrath of Australia the dangers to Eyers. And off we go!
Eyers, by the way, was 2017’s Mr England and the first amputee to earn that coveted title; he also models.
Coming up in 10 minutes: Jack Eyers goes in the final of the VL3 Va’a single 200m. He set a Paralympic record earlier this morning in his semi, but having come from behind to win, what does he have left?
We’re watching the KL2 medal ceremony and Wiggs is so delighted – it’s glorious to behold. Now Henshaw accepts her gold, saluting the crowd like this is routine behaviour – which for her it kind of is. Mazal tov to all.
It’s so great to see Sugar and Barbosa celebrate together. Sugar simply couldn’t be beaten, but Barbosa made damn sure she won the race within the race for second.
Sugar was out quickly and no one could live with her. Barbosa, though, did brilliantly to hang on for silver, conjuring the race of her life when it mattered most in front of her home crowd.
Laura Sugar of GB wins gold in the women's KL3 kayak single 200m in a Paralympic Games record time of 46.66s
Nelia Barbosa of France takes a very popular silver, with Felicia Laberer of Germany bronze. Hope Gordon is fifth.
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Sugar is going to win again for GB!
Sugar leads and looks awesome! Barbosa of France is behind but she’s not gaining!
Our women are on the water for the KL3 200m final. Laura Sugar looks ready.
Here he is!
Henshaw feels immense gratitude for the opportunity to be in Paris, “still hitting it out with the best in the world”. When she was a swimmer she only had one go at things and was looking forward to getting two shies, so winning two golds is great. She’s got loads of school friends out, who’re enjoying the party atmosphere; they and her family are the ones she calls crying after training, and they help get her head out of canoeing. She thanks the National Lottery for funding the training centre, the wind in Nottingham is helpful for the conditions in Paris.
Otherwise, she talks about having an injured elbow and getting it sorted – she’s grateful to those who persuaded her not to leave it – and finally, bravely, flags her problems with endometriosis, the condition one that mustn't be forgotten.
So what’s left for us? We’ve got two more canoeing finals, at 11.15 and 11.41, both featuring Brits with medal expectations. Then, at 12.45 it’s the final of the women’s wheelchair basketball between the Netherlands and USA, and during which we’ll have two final powerlifting finals before we call it a day in advance of this evening’s closing ceremony. So let’s make sure we’re intentional in enjoying the sport we’ve got left because we’ll miss it when it’s gone.
I’m waiting for a photo, but Rufino de Paulo has quite the facial affair, massive thick sideboards into a moustache with a chin affair also going on. Not saying I couldn’t take him if I really had to.
Coming up at 11.15: Hope Gordon, winner of silver in the women’s VL3 Va’a Single 200m, and Laura Sugar, the defending champ, go in the final of the KL3 kayak single 200m. Sugar, who broke the games record on Friday, will take some stopping.
These are always so good.
Fernando Rufino de Paulo of Brazil wins gold in the men's VL2 200m Va'a single
Igor Tofalini of Brazil takes silver and Blake Haxton of USA bronze – between them was just 0.03 of a second.
De Paulo leads by miles and no one’s going to stop him today or any day.
Righto, here comes the men’s 200m VL2 final, Edward Clifton going for GB … but de Paulo of Brazil leads, Tofalini of Brazil behind him.
“I’m so proud of you, you’re amazing, well done.” We hear Henshaw and Wiggs share a moment, and isn’t that lovely? Henshaw absolutely annihilated the field there, though spare a thought for Katalin Varga, who lost the run of things mid-race and, in the process, a medal – probably silver.
Tayana Medeiros of Brazil wins gold in the women's up to 86kg with a Paralympic record of 156kg powerlifting
Zheng Feifei of China takes silver and Marion Serrano Guajardo of Chile bronze.
Charlotte Henshaw of GB wins gold in the women's KL2 200m kayak single
Emma Wiggs of GB takes solver and Aja Adler of Germany bronze.
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Henshaw powers away from the field, Varga losing it and Wiggs second…
Back on the water, we’re away in the final, Henshaw zooming in front! Varaga is second, Wiggs third!
Now then! Medeiros attacks 156, a new Olympic record, if she bangs it she takes the gold-medal position … and she does! she’s overcome, her team mobbing her, and what an effort! i said the gold was almost decided and it was, but … it wasn’t!
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Chippington tells Channel 4 she’d like to get to LA in four years; of course she would. Incredible behaviour.
Meantime, Feifei is trying to break her own world record of 159kg … and she cannot. But she and Medeiros will now go into the extra round of powerlifts wth the gold still not quite settled; the Brazilian is going for 156kg and if she nails it she wins!
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Back to the women’s T12 marathon, El Idrissi finished time ago in a world-record time, and we can now confirm that Meryem En-Nourhi of Morocco takes siolver and Elena Congost of Spain bronze.
Henshaw, by the way, is the defending champion. But Wiggs is also an Olympic champ, and though Susan Seipel of Australia will have something to say, those two could easily contest the gold.
Back to the powerlifting, Zhang still leads on 155; I can’t see Medeiros, now on 142, bettering that, so the gold is almost decided.
Not long to go now! At 10.41, Wiggs and Henshaw will go in the final of the KL2 200m.
Katherinne Wollermann of Chile wins gold in the women's KL1 200m kayak single
Maryna Mazhula of Ukraine takes silver and Edina Mueller of germany bronze. Chippington is seventh.
Mazhula of Ukrainie passes Wollermann who comes back at her!
They’re on the line … and off they go! Wollermann of Chile leads, Chippigton off it.
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Just to give you a sense of her ridiculousness, Chippington won swimming golds in … 1996. I was 17 then, I’m 45 now, which I say just to give some scale to dedication and excellence that’s so immense it can be hard to grasp.
At 54, Jeanette Chippington is the oldest athlete in the GB team, and she will shortly go in the final of the KL1 canoeing – they’re scheduled to go off two minutes from now.
Fatima El Idrissi of Morocco wins the women's T12 marathon in a world record time of 2:48.36
She has taken the field apart.
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Fatima El Idrissi comes around the final corner on the verge of tears and rightly so. She’s going to win gold for Morocco and she’s going to devastate the world record too. She punches the air, and what a moment this is!
Also going on:
We’re just watching Jack Eyers go in the second semi of the men’s VL3 Va’a 200m sprint; he’s paddling like billy-o and he comes from behind to win in a Paralympic Games best of 48.59. The final is at 11.41.
Fatima El Idrissi will soon be the women’s T12 marathon champion. She’s eight or so minutes ahead of her teammate, Meryem En-Nourhi.
Back at the powerlifting, Zhang Feifei of China now leads with 150kg, ahead of Brazil’s Tayana Medeiros, on 137.
Then, in the KL2 final at 10.41, Charlotte Henshaw – the defending champ and VL3 200m champ – goes, likewise Emma Wiggs, who won the VL2 event. That should be a race.
Jeanette Chippington, the queen of the para-canoe, had a disappointment in yesterday’s VL2 200m, but she goes again in the KL1 final at 10.25am; stand by for that one.
Wajdi Boukhili of Tunisia wins gold on the T12 men's marathon
Alberto Suarez Laso of Spain takes silver and El Amin Chentouf of Morocco the bronze.
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Here comes Boukhili and he’s got a finger aloft, now a full arm! He’s going to win the T12 men’s marathon in fantastic style!
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We’ve had almost two rounds of the 86kg powerlifting. Randa Mahmoud of Egypt leads on 128, miles ahead of Mayagozel Ekeyeva of Turkmenistan who managed 107.
Look at Walid Boukhili! He’s absolutely storming to the line now while, behind him, Suarez Laso of Spain has overtaken Cehntouf of Morocco.
Back at the La Chapelle Arena – now there’s a name to evoke memories for anyone who did the congress system as part of history A-level – the final of the women’s up to 86kg powerlifting is away.
In the men’s T12 marathon, Boukhili of Tunisia leads Chentouf of Morocco by roughly 4os. He looks in rhythm here, focused and strong, with six or so kilometres to go.
Edward Clifton has qualified for the final of the VL2 men’s Va’a single 200m; I’m not sure he’s a medal threat, but we’ll find out at 10.49am.
El Idrissi has broken away from En-Nourhi in the women’s T12 marathon and looks strong. But she’s only at 30km, so isn’t safe yet.
Emma Wiggs of GB, who won 200m gold yesterday, goes in semi-final two and she eases through to the final behind the Australian, Susan Seipel. Those two will surely contest the gold medal in what should be a serious tussle – it’s coming up at 10.41.
Righto, it’s off to the water and the KL2 para canoeing. LEXI say:
KL2 is for paddlers with moderately affected movement in the hips and legs, the absence of two legs above the knee or one leg entirely.
These paddlers have good control of the upper and lower body providing good balance. They propel the boat using the arms and trunk.
Debrunner is amazing. She’d already won the T53 400m and 800m along with the T54 1500m and 5000m, taking silver in the T53 100m; now she’s the marathon champ too and at 29, I’m sure there’s lots more to come.
Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland wins the women's T54 marathon
Madison de Rozario of Australia takes silver and Susannah Scaroni of USA the bronze.
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Aliakbar Gharibshahi of Iran wins gold in the men's up to 107kg powerlifting
Setting a Paralympic record of 252kg in the process. Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar of Mongolia takes silver and Jose de Jesus Castillo Castillo of Mexico the bronze.
Three red lights, so not this time – though he doesn’t love the judges’ call. But all things considered, not a bad morning for the Iranian.
Back at the powerlifting, the defending champ, Enkhbayar, will go for 260kg; if he sorts it, it’s a new world record … but he can’t! He has to settle for the silver medal and Gharibshahi takes gold; here he comes, the crowd going wild, and he’ll now have a go at bettering the mark he set. There’s 262 kg on the bar and here he goes … come on Aliakbar!
David Weir, six-time Paralympic gold medalist, retires from international competition
David Weir, six-time Paralympic gold medalist, finished fifth in the T54 marathon, and in interview with Channel 4 as we speak, he announces his retirement from international competition. He’ll continue to compete in the big marathons around the world, but his time in the GB vest is over – and hasn’t he made the most of it. What a total hero.
Coming up later: we’ve got some canoeing, in which Charlotte Henshaw and and Laura Sugar will be defending their titles won in Tokyo, while Jack Eyers will fancy himself a medal too; those finals come at 10.41, 11.07 and 11.41 respectively.
In the women’s T12 marathon, Fatima El Isrissi of Morocco, already a silver medalist in the T13 5000m, leads by a way from Meryem En-Nourhi also of Morocco; she’s just passed the halfway mark but is she tiring a little?
But back to the powerlifting, Gharibshahi is going for 252 … and look at that! It’s easy for him, and he retakes the gold-medal position with another PR; let’s see what happens next.
In the men’s T12 marathon, El Amin Chenntouf of Morocco and Wajdi Boukhli of Tunisia have broken away from the field.
Here comes Enkhbayar to try and improve the Games record one kilo to 248 … and he bangs it out! Now then. Ghaaribshahi to go next…
Jose de Jesus Castillo Castillo, sitting third. noises up the crowd as he addresses 231 … and he can’t quite get it up.
Also going on is the men’s up to 107kg powerlifting. Aliakbar Gharibshahi of Iran leads with 247kg, a Paralympic record, and given we’re in round three, it’ll take something significant to stop him claiming gold. But Sodnompilkee Enkhbayar of Mongolia will shortly attack 248; if he nails it, he’ll move in front.
Jin Hua of China has gone by Tomoki Suzuki of Japan; they take silver and bronze respectively.
In the women’s race, another Swiss legend, Catherine Debrunner, leads by a way; Susannah Scaroni of USA lies second with Madison de Rozario of Australia third.
Marcel Hug of Switzerland wins men's T54 marathon gold for the third time in a row!
Yet another terrifyingly, affirmingly brilliant performance. What a man!
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Hug comes around the final corner and the line awaits him! He’s destroyed the field!
Hug rides over cobbles, and that must be horrible – I know how eager people in regular chairs are to avoid them, but on these racing affairs it must be something else. He’s nearly there, though – the gold will soon be his.
Marcel Hug, who took four golds in Tokyo but so far here has had to satisfy himself with two silver and one bronze, is well in front in the T54 men’s marathon. Second is Tomoki Suzuki of Japan with Jin Hua of China third and David Weir of GB fourth, but none have a prayer of catching the leader.
As per LEXI, T12 classification “is for runners with a visual impairment. Their vision is constricted to a radius of less than five degrees and/or the ability to recognise a moving object at a distance of one metre.”
And T54 “is for wheelchair track athletes who have full function in their body with moderately or highly affected movement in the legs or the absence of legs. All generate power through the full range of body and arm movements, providing good acceleration from the start and highly responsive manoeuvring during the race.”
Preamble
Salut! It’s been an incredible Games … and it’s not quite finished yet. Before we have to contemplate what we might do tomorrow, we’ve got one more day of intense and moving competition.
The T54 and T12 marathons are already under way and we’ve also got some powerlifting and basketball for you – most particularly the women’s gold-medal match between the Netherlands and USA – so let’s get on with it. On y va!
