Paris 2024 Paralympic Games highlights of 2 September: Susana Rodriguez, Claudiney Batista dos Santos and Bobirjon Omonov win consecutive gold medals

Day six of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Monday, 2 September featured another batch of world and Paralympic records, inspiring stories and fierce competition.

Among these intriguining storylines was Yang Chao of the People's Republic of China, who won gold with a final tally of 30 in the P3 mixed 25m pistol SH1 competition at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre. In the process, he broke the Paralympic record he set at Tokyo 2020. Yang also holds the world record in this event, which he set in 2018.

Susana Rodriguez of Spain overcame a pre-Games bike crash to win a consecutive Paralympic women's PTVI gold medal at Pont Alexandre III. The 36-year-old is also a five-time world champion and four-time European champion.

"You just never get tired of winning," said Rodriguez. "This medal is really special. I’m very proud of (guide) Sara (Pelez Sala) because exactly three months ago we had a very big bike crash riding (at) 70 kilometres an hour. We were lucky we didn't have bad consequences for our bodies, but mentally it's been hard to ride the tandem (bike) again."

Moment of the day: Mark Barr gets his long awaited Paralympics moment

After making his first appearance in the Paralympics at Athens 2004, four-time Paralympian Mark Barr of the United States swam his way onto the Para Triathlon podium at Paris 2024 for the first time after capturing the bronze medal in the men’s PTS2 competition at Pont Alexandre III on Monday.

During this 20 year stretch, the 38-year-old narrowly missed the podium a few times, most recently finishing fourth in the men’s PT2 at Rio 2016. Now, the California native is finally a Paralympic medallist.

"I've been chasing the podium for 20 years, since 2004. Three fourth places, which is the worst place you can get in a race, so to finish on the podium finally is very rewarding,” Barr said. "And to get third alongside my teammate, training partner (Mohamed Lahna USA, silver medallist) we've been competing together for 14 years, it's pretty cool to share the podium with him."

Barr is a former NCAA Division I swimmer, competing at California Polytechnic State University from 2004-08. He competed at both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 in the pool before transitioning to triathlon. On top of his Paralympic endeavors, Barr currently works as a registered nurse in the trauma surgical ICU, working multiple 12-hour shifts a week.

"Man, a lot of training, a lot of heartache. I hate having to answer that I've never gotten a medal before. Now I can check that box, as a medallist, which is a great feeling to have,” Barr said when asked about his motivations over the past 20 years. "I had on my phone, a picture of the podiums that I've missed. It was good motivation to push through the dark days of training and keep motivation high."

Medal of the day: Yayesh Gate Tesfaw wins women’s 1500m T11 and sets another world record

Yayesh Gate Tesfaw of Ethiopia broke her own world record as she captured gold in the women’s 1500m T11 at Stade de France, finishing in a time of 4:27:68. This new world record time is more than four seconds faster than her previous record set at Kobe 2024 World Championships and nearly 10 seconds faster than her Paralympic record run at Tokyo 2020.

“I knew I had the world record already and I am happy to break it again. I needed to do it again,” Tesfaw said. “It means even more to do it here, in the Paralympic arena and at the Paralympic Games of Paris 2024."

Tesfaw was guided by Kindu Sisay Girma as the pair displayed remarkable chemistry.

“We are from the same area in Ethiopia, the same little village. We competed together in athletics. I was an athlete myself and started to help her after I saw her running. I started with her six years ago. I have been traveling since then with her all over Africa, all over Japan,” Girma said. “We planned to get the record today. I know her stride, her rhythm, her power, her stamina, her strength - I understand the way she runs. So in Paris 2024 I knew we could fulfill our mission.”

After representing Ethiopia in the Paralympic Opening Ceremony, Tesfaw did her part on the track securing gold and another world record, all feats she is tremendously proud of.

“I am so happy. First I carried the flag (at the Opening Ceremony) and now I have the gold and a world record,” she said. “My country has a lot of heroic runners, so I am happy that I am now one of them and can do my country proud. This is for Ethiopia, for all my friends, for all my family."

Quote of the day: Morgan Stickney overcomes recent surgery to win women’s 400m Freestyle S7 final at La Defense Arena

Para swimmer Morgan Stickney of the United States was dominant in her women’s 400m Freestyle S7 gold medal victory, winning by over 15 seconds and setting a Paralympic record in the process with a time of 4:53:88. The 27-year-old is now a three-time Paralympic gold medallist and a three-time World champion.

"It's just so surreal to be here and to be a gold medallist once again. I love this event - it's my favourite event. I love training for it. I'm just so excited,” Stickney said.

Stickney is battling a rare vascular condition that she shares with just one other person in the United States, leading to several amputations of her legs. She spent a significant portion of 2023 in a Boston hospital receiving treatment for her condition. Yet, she was able to overcome this adversity and capture her third Paralympic gold medal.

"I've spent a third of the last year in hospital, so to just be here is amazing in and of itself. To be able to do what I just did is so surreal,” she said "Three of my doctors are in the stands. I got to share some of my high moments with them, and they've seen me at my lowest - when you just don't even feel like moving on to the next moment. I'm just so incredibly grateful."

Stickney alluded to the mental fortitude required to even compete at the Games, let alone take home the gold.

"It took a lot of sports psychology and these amazing people in my life from my medical team. I'm just so excited to show them what I've been doing and to have them rooting for me,” she said. “It was so cool that they were all texting me after my prelim this morning, watching me."

Results of the day: Claudiney Batista dos Santos of Brazil and Bobirjon Omonov of Uzbekistan win consecutive gold medals by setting Paralympic records

Both Claudiney Batista dos Santos of Brazil and Bobirjon Omonov of Uzbekistan talents were on full display Monday at Stade de France as both won consecutive gold medals in their respective event and improved upon their Paralympic records in the process.

Batista dos Santos competed in the men's F56 discus throw, winning his third straight gold medal by a wide margin. His toss of 46.86 was more than four meters longer than silver medalist Yogesh Kathuniya of India and over a meter longer than his previous Paralympic record set at Tokyo 2020.

“It takes a lot of focus and dedication. When my friends back home invite me to have a beer and I have to say, ‘No’, it is because of this moment. This is what it is all for. I have to be focused. I have to dedicate myself so I can be here in the best condition to get the medal again,” he said. “I tried to break my own world record but it didn’t come this time. At least I beat the Paralympic record twice. I am very proud of that.”

Omonov competed in the men's shot put F41, breaking his previous Paralympic record of 14.06 set at Tokyo 2020 by recording a throw of 14.32 at Paris 2024. Now, the 23-year-old has won gold at two world championships and two Paralympics.