China’s dominance in Paralympic swimming continued on Friday as they secured two world records in the space of 15 minutes, ultimately leapfrogging Britain to claim the top spot on the medals table. The first record came from Guo Jincheng, an armless swimmer, who triumphed in the men’s 50m butterfly S5. Following closely behind, Lu Dong replicated the feat in the women’s event, further solidifying China’s position at the La Defense Arena.
The Chinese dominance wasn’t just limited to these two victories. Guo Jincheng was joined on the podium by his compatriots Yuan Weiyi and Wang Lichao, showcasing the depth of talent within the Chinese team. By the end of Friday’s competition, China had amassed an impressive 83 gold medals, a staggering 41 more than their closest rivals, Britain. Despite the intense competition, Jincheng admitted to feeling more pressure when facing his Chinese teammates. “I feel more stressed when I compete against my Chinese teammates,” he said. “We all know each other, the details and everything. The smallest thing could make me lose.”
While Britain lost their lead in the swimming category, they still had reason to celebrate with four medals, including a gold for Poppy Maskill in the women’s 100 S14. Maskill, despite not achieving a personal best, was still thrilled with her performance. “I was a little bit annoyed because it’s not a PB (personal best),” she admitted. “I am happy with the medal obviously, that’s really cool and a great achievement. I am slightly disappointed in the time because I know I can do better. But I tried my hardest.”
Another highlight of the day was Italian para swimmer Simone Barlaam securing his second gold medal of the Paris 2024 Games. He achieved this feat by setting a European record in the 100m butterfly S9, a category for competitors with joint restrictions in one leg, double below-the-knee amputations, or amputation of one leg. Barlaam, who spent time in Paris as a teenager receiving treatment on his leg, had the surgeon who saved his limb present in the stands to witness his triumph. “Thinking that 12 or 13 years ago I was here in this very city, with him, in a very different location. It feels very surreal… I would have never imagined even in the best scenarios this kind of thing (would happen),” Barlaam said, reflecting on the poignant moment.
