Paris 2024 Paralympic Games highlights of 4 September: Germany’s Markus Rehm ‘the Blade Jumper’ dominates to win gold, Team USA’s Oksana Masters defends Para cycling gold
The seventh day of competition on Wednesday, 4 September at the Paris 2024 Paralympics saw new champions minted across the disciplines from Para athletics to Para swimming.
German long jumper Markus Rehm (“The Blade Jumper”) won a fourth consecutive gold medal in the T64 division at Stade de France with a commanding performance and a score of 8.13m.
Para cycling road got underway at the Clichy-sous-Bois circuit with ParalympicGB’s greatest ever Paralympian, Sarah Storey, winning her 18th Paralympic gold medal in the C5 individual time trial.
Para powerlifting competitions also got underway at the Arena Porte de La Chapelle with four gold medals awarded.
The day also saw the first gold medal awarded in wheelchair tennis with the Netherlands’ Sam Schroder/Niels Vink prevailing over Great Britain’s Andy Lapthorne/Gregory Slade 6-1, 6-1 in the Quad Doubles final.
An emotional Schroder said this win was “very special.” Noting that it was the second gold medal, but also, at Tokyo 2020, “we couldn’t have any friends, family or sponsors watching us. Today, there were a bunch of people from both sides to celebrate and be all together. That made it extra special for me."
Moment of the day: USA's Oksana Masters successfully defends her Para cycling road title
Team USA’s Oksana Masters claimed her 18th Paralympic medal in the Para cycling road women’s individual time trial H4-5. This marks her first medal at Paris 2024 and her eighth Paralympic gold medal. The seven-time Paralympian has won medals across three different sports also including Para rowing and Para Nordic skiing.
Masters thanked her teammates and her fiancé, who was at the finish line and, “almost made me go deaf, celebrating screaming in my ear.”
Masters’ plans to donate the proceeds from winning to an orphanage in Ukraine, herself an orphan from Ukraine, where the Chernobyl nuclear disaster left her with impairments. She said, “I just wanted to do it for that little Oksana that was never believed in. For other new athletes coming behind me, (to make them feel) that we belong here on the start line, no matter how we look."
Gold medallist Oksana Masters of Team USA poses for a photo during the Para Cycling Road Women's H4-5 Individual Time Trial Medal Ceremony on day seven of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games.
Medal of the day: Great Britain’s Samantha Kinghorn wins her first gold in 100m T53
After twice winning silver behind Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner on the Para athletics track here in Paris, Great Britain’s Samantha “Sami” Kinghorn came from behind to win her first ever Paralympic gold medal in the women's 100m T53. Debrunner won with a new PR of 15.64 ahead of Derbunner in silver with a 15.77 and the People’s Republic of China Gao Fang with a season’s best 16.16 for bronze.
A tearful Kinghorn made her way to the stands to celebrate with family and friends. Later saying, "I’ve got 29 people out there – with posters of my face, to do it in front of them is so incredibly special.
“No more 'Silver Sammi'. I wonder what they’ll come up with now. I sobbed the whole way round my victory lap. Just sobbed the whole time."
A smiling Debrunner said, “I knew it was going to be a big battle with Samantha. She was so strong and she really deserves that medal." Adding, “So three golds and a silver, just two more (events) to go."
Esther Nworgu from Nigeria wins the silver medal in the women’s up to 41kg division in her Paralympic debut.
Quote of the day: Nigeria’s Esther Nworgu ready to rule the world with silver in Paralympic powerlifting debut
On the first day of Para powerlifting competition, 21-year-old powerlifter Esther Nworgu from Nigeria won the silver medal in the women’s up to 41kg division in her Paralympic debut.
Only two days before competing her doctor advised her against it, but Nworgu doesn’t let anyone else set her limits, saying, "In the near future, I want to rule the world. I want to win gold medals and break records."
She also shared her personal motto, saying: "I don't like using 'd', 'i' and 's' in my ability. I'd rather use 't', 'h', 'i' and 's' in my ability - this ability. Because I believe that where there is disability, there is ability. I see it as strength."
Gold medalist, Weiyi Yuan, Silver medalist, Jincheng Guo and Bronze medalist, Lichao Wang of China on the podium for men's 50m Backstroke - S5 at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games.
Results of the day: People's Republic of China swimming medal haul
It was the People Republic of China’s day in the pool as the Chinese swimmers earned 11 medals in just six races including four gold, four silver and three bronze medals. A portion of those medals came from a Paralympics first, where the Chinese swept both the men’s and women’s 50m backstroke S5 podiums.
In no way was this remarkable feat left to chance, men’s 50m backstroke S5 gold medallist Yuan Weiyi shared that, “Before the competition we said to each other, 'We will take all the medals. All the medals need to go to China. We are very proud we made it happen." The world record holder Lu Dong successfully defended her 50m backstroke S5 title.