Day 1 Key Medal Highlights

Gold for Great

The first gold medal of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was awarded to Dutch Paralympic cyclist Caroline Groot, who finished on top of the podium in the women's 500-meter time trial C4-5.

Frances Marie Patouillet finished second, behind Groot. She felt the support of the home crowd and took silver.

It was amazing to see so many people holding up pictures of my face in the crowd. When we compete or train here, there are normally no people, so to have so many people here was magical. It’s just incredible to win here. This is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life.

China enjoyed a successful day at the Vlodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines with three medals, including gold in the women's and men's 3000m individual pursuit C1 for Wang Xiaomei and Li Zhangyu.

“When I won silver (in Tokyo), I felt I was getting better, but I still hadn't won gold,” Wang said. “In the past, maybe I didn't have enough experience in big competitions. I learned from my races in world events. Today I could show myself.”

Italy leads the way in the swimming pool

Italy started the competition at the Arena La Défense in Paris strongly, with eight medals on the first day of competition, including two gold.

Carlotta Gilli defended her gold medal in the women's 100m butterfly S13 in Tokyo, followed by a first place for Francesco Bocciardo in the men's 200m freestyle S5 final.

“I am very happy with this competition,” Gilli said. “I always say that winning is difficult, but repeating the victory is even more difficult. It is fantastic, it is a dream, and to do it with my family and friends who are here is great.

Bocciardo, who is competing in the Paralympic Games for the fourth time, set a new Paralympic record of 2:25.99.

I am very happy that I broke the Paralympic record. I did not believe that I could do that at my age. I knew that it would be very difficult and to win this race I had to be faster than I have been so far.

Carlotta inspired me, she gave me the strength to say I want to win, like she did before me.

The host nation secured its first gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games when Ugo Didier took gold in the men's 400m freestyle final (S9), ahead of Simone Barlaam.

It was a tactical fight. He (silver medalist Barlaam) beat me three years ago, two years ago, a year ago, and today it was my turn,” Didier said.

Khudadadi makes history

History was made at the Grand Palais as the Para Taekwondo competition got underway, with Zakia Khudadadi, who lives and trains in France, becoming the first Paralympic refugee team athlete to win a medal with bronze in the women's K44 -47kg category.

I am so, so happy today, Khudadadi said. “For me this medal is a dream. Today I am in a dream.

Peru's Leonor Angelica Espinoza Carranza won two golds. She defended her title in Tokyo by beating Uzbekistan's Ziyodakhon Isakova 10-4 in the women's K44 -47 kg gold medal match.

At first it was happiness, Espinoza Carranza said of her emotions after winning. It was a feeling of yes, I did it again. Then I felt very calm because I knew and realized that I did it. I'm just so happy.

Young table tennis player wins bronze

Fourteen-year-old Bly Twomey won bronze for Great Britain with partner Felicity Pickard in the women's doubles after losing to China's Huang Wenjuan and Jin Yucheng in the semi-finals of the WD14.

“It feels amazing to win a medal at the first Paralympic Games,” said Twomey.

I didn't think we would do it. It means a lot. When I first started playing table tennis, I didn't think I would be at the Paralympics in Paris. I'm really proud to be here, and with Felic (Pickard) it's just amazing.

Paris 2024 will also mark the first Paralympic Games for Para table tennis athlete Pickard.

“It's been incredible. We've been on a journey,” Pickard said. “I've been battling myself mentally. I know I have the strongest mind there is. My biggest opponent is myself. Bly and the staff of the team have been incredible in getting me here.”

Norwegians Aida Husic Dahlen and Merethe Tveiten also took bronze, after losing their semi-final 3-2 to Germans Stephanie Grebe and Juliane Wolf.