Paris 2024 Paralympics | Para swimming: Ugo Didier 400 m freestyle Paralympic champion S9

The first gold medal for the French Paralympic team! Ugo Didier thrilled the French Para swimming public at the Paris La Défense Arena on Thursday. The 22-year-old Frenchman, who came third after the morning heats, was not the main favourite in this 400 m freestyle S9 final.

In lane 6, the Frenchman had his work cut out against Australians Timothy Hodge and Brenden Hall, as well as Italy's Simone Barlaam, who was keeping his cards close to his chest after the morning heats.

Starting cautiously, Ugo Didier, third at the halfway stage, played his joker card: the support of the Paris La Défense Arena crowd. The Frenchman, silver medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Games, had a wild final 200m, catching first Timothy Hodge and then Simone Barlaam in the final length.

Behind a delighted crowd, Ugo Didier made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by becoming the first Frenchman to win a gold medal for the French people. A feat that will be followed by many more in the future!

After the Frenchman, who finished the race in 4'12‘’55, Italy's Simone Barlaam took silver in 4'14‘’16. Australian Brenden Hall, who overtook his compatriot Timothy Hodge in the final hectometres, completed the podium.

Agathe Pauli on the verge of greatness

A few minutes after Ugo Didier's gold medal, Agathe Pauli entered the competition with the ambition of also making the Paris La Défense Arena roar with delight. Starting from lane 1, the Frenchwoman got off to a flying start in her 400 m freestyle S9 final. Second after the first 100 metres, the Para swimmer unfortunately fell down the rankings as the lengths went by, slipping to third place at the halfway point before falling off the podium with 100 m to go. Sixth at the finish in 4'49‘’66, she missed out on the bronze medal by just 2 seconds.

The Paralympic title went to Hungary's Zsofia Konkoly (4'39‘’78), ahead of Australia's Lakeisha Patterson (4'40‘’14) and Italy's Vittoria Bianco (4'47‘’55).

Yi Chen breaks the 50 m freestyle S10 world record, Emeline Pierre fifth

Moments later, while American Christie Raleigh-Crossey had beaten the all-time record earlier in the morning in the S9 heats, it was China's Yi Chen who took gold in the S10 50 m freestyle on Thursday evening. With a perfect race, the Asian para-swimmer even claimed the S10 world record (in 27‘’10).

The American (27‘’38) had to settle for silver, while Canadian Aurelie Rivard (27‘’62) completed the podium. Emeline Pierre, with a time of 27‘’77, narrowly missed out on a medal, but did herself credit.