Paris 2024 Paralympics | Para swimming: Ugo Didier and Alex Portal qualify for the first finals of the day, records broken in the qualifying rounds

Para swimming got the very first day of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games off to a perfect start on Thursday. On the French side, in the pools of the Paris La Défense Arena, Ugo Didier got off to a perfect start in his competition. The Frenchman, winner of his 400 m freestyle S9 heat, set the fourth best time of the morning, in 4'21‘’28. It was the Australians Timothy Hodge (4'19‘’31) and Brenden Hall (4'19‘’41) who dominated the proceedings for the time being ahead of tonight's final.

Second in his heat of the S13 100 m butterfly behind Ihar Boki (NPA), Alex Portal was delighted to qualify for the final with a time of 55'25.

"I didn't feel too bad. I heard I was going to the final, so that's the main thing. I loved the atmosphere in the crowd, I had chills all over, you don't usually get that. I can't wait for the final tonight, to give it my all and enjoy myself no matter what the result, he told French television. The noise, it's crazy. Knowing that everyone is shouting for you is exceptional. I know my family have come to cheer me on and I'm so happy and proud. Frankly, I feel good in the water, so I think there's a lot to play for tonight."

Agathe Pauli (400 m freestyle S9) also qualified for the final with the seventh best time in the combined heats (4'54‘’30), as did Emeline Pierre (50 m freestyle S10), sixth in the heats with a time of 28‘’18.

Leane Morceau, on the other hand, didn't make the cut in the S12/S13 100 m butterfly, fourteenth in the heats in 1'11‘’02.

Records, records... and more records

It was also a morning of records. A world record was broken on Thursday in Nanterre, in the women's 50 m freestyle S9 by American Christie Raleigh-Crossley (27‘’28). A few moments earlier, in the previous heat, the Paralympic record had already been broken by Australian Alexa Leary (27‘’69). In the same race, China's Yi Chen beat the Asian record in the 50m S10 in 27‘’73.

In the S2 100m backstroke, an American record for Mexico's Haidee Viviana Aceves Perez (2'22‘’03). Spain's Teresa Perales (2'41‘’55) will also be in the final, with the sixth fastest time in the heats.

There was also an Oceania record for Australian Benjamin Hance in the S14 100m butterfly (55'71), third in the heats behind Great Britain's William Ellard and Denmark's Alexander Hillhouse.

The Paralympic record fell in the 50 m freestyle S6, set by China's Yuyan Jiang (32‘’70). The American Ellie Marks (33'05) broke the American record in the second heat. A high-flying battle between the two young women awaits.

African records also fell on the Egyptian side, in the 50 m freestyle S10 for Zeiad Tarek Hasby (24‘’75), seventh fastest in the heats and therefore qualified for the final, and in the 200 m freestyle S5 for Zeyad Kahil (2'52‘’12), eighth fastest overall and also in the final this evening.

The end of the morning was marked by a final Paralympic record, in the S4 200 m freestyle, set by Germany's Tanja Scholz (3'08‘’53). Ranked eighth in the heats - as she is competing with the S5s - she will be taking part in the final.

The finals start at 5.30pm, with Ugo Didier and the 400 m freestyle S9.