The Paris Paralympics concluded on Sunday with a flurry of exciting events, leaving a lasting legacy of athleticism and resilience. Switzerland emerged as the dominant force in the wheelchair marathons, with Catherine Debrunner securing gold in the women’s race and Marcel Hug taking the men’s title. Debrunner, already a four-time gold medalist in track events at these Games, added another triumph to her impressive collection. Hug, meanwhile, overcame a disappointing track performance to dominate the marathon, finishing three minutes and 40 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor.
The Netherlands celebrated a double victory in wheelchair basketball, retaining the women’s title they won in Tokyo 2020 with a commanding 63-49 win against the USA. Bo Kramer led the Dutch charge with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Mariska Beijer contributed 22 points. The American team will have to wait until the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics for another shot at the title.
China solidified their dominance in the Paralympic movement, securing the top spot on the medals table for the seventh consecutive Games. Their impressive haul of 94 gold medals was followed by Britain with 49 and the USA with 36. The Netherlands finished fourth with 27 golds, followed by Brazil with 25 and Italy with 24. Ukraine, despite the ongoing war with Russia, showcased remarkable resilience, claiming 22 gold medals to secure seventh place. The host nation, France, finished eighth with 19 golds.
The Paralympics saw a poignant moment of remembrance when a minute’s silence was held during one of the women’s marathons in honor of Rebecca Cheptegei, the Ugandan Olympic marathon runner who tragically passed away this week after an attack by her partner. Cheptegei had finished 44th in the women’s marathon at the Olympics.
David Weir, a legendary figure in British Paralympic sport, announced that the Paris Games would be his last. The 45-year-old, who finished fifth in the men’s marathon, will now focus on city marathons.
As the Paralympics drew to a close, the City of Light bid farewell to the Games with a closing ceremony at the Stade de France. The six weeks of Olympic and Paralympic fever in Paris will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the city and the world of sport.
