SANTIAGO, Chile — The big names in the athletics at the 2023 Para Pan American Games showed that they are still at the top of the game with gold going the way of the superstars on the first day of competition on the track and in the field.
Omar Durand (guide: Yuniol Kindalen) cruised to gold in the women’s 200m T12 for the third straight time. It wasn’t just winning that was expected it was the margin as the Cuban finished two seconds clear of silver medalist Alejandra Perez (VEN) with a time of 23.63.
That wasn’t her best time of the event, breaking the meet record with a 23.59 in the qualifying round. If she can shave half a second in the next year she could break her own world record in Paris.
One world record did fall, with Elizabeth Rodrigues (BRA) breaking her own women’s discus F53 record. At 58 years old Rodrigues just keeps getting better, breaking the world record she set in Tokyo with a throw of 17.80m, winning the gold and sending a message to the rest of the world.
“I am extremely happy with this world record. It means that the work that we are doing is great. I am already preparing for Paris 2024, but this result in the Parapan American Games makes me feel like if I were in my first competition”, said Rodrigues after the event.
Brazil’s favorites continued winning in the men’s 5000m T11 with Yeltsin Jacques Ortega (guide: Edelson De Avila) running 15:13.10. That saw him demolish the meet record by 26 seconds, showing continued improvement after winning gold in Tokyo.
There was a Brazilian battle in the women’s 200m T11 in a thrilling race. Jerusa Gerber edged out Thalita Simplico, reversing their finishing order from the Paralympic Games where they were second and third. Gerber went on to tell the world that the 100m is the one she really expects to do well as it is her preferred event.
Another meet record fell in the women’s shot put F20 through Poleth Isamar Mendes (ECU) as she extended the record with a throw of 13.91 for her second straight gold in the event.
The biggest upset of the day came in the men’s 400m T38 as American Ryan Medrano beat Mexico’s Paralympic Champion, Jose Rodolfo Chessani.
Brazil is well out in front in the Para Pan American Games medal tally with 67 gold, 45 silver and 43 bronze. The USA is second but well off the pace with 20 gold.
All photos: Marcelo Hernández / Santiago 2023 via Photosport
TOKYO — A long day out at the Fuji Speedway saw cycling move outdoors as the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics rolled into its second week on Tuesday.
Australians clean up in time trials
Photo: Paralympics Australia
Cycling moved outside on Tuesday and the first event of the day saw an incredible performance from Australian Darren Hicks in the men’s C2 time trial. Producing more and more power as the race went on Hicks set a time that proved far too much for any others, winning by 92 seconds. Alexandre Leaute (FRA) was the only hope but a late mechanical issue forced him to settle for bronze after dropping his chain.
Samantha Storey (GBR) successfully defended her women’s C5 title finishing even further in front winning her second gold of these Games finishing five minutes clear of the rest of the field, prompting a squeal of celebration as she crossed the finish line.
The women’s C4 was much closer as Shawn Morelli (USA) came through to edge out Australian pair Emily Petricola and Meg Lemon who finished just nine seconds down. The men’s C1 was even closer as Mikhail Astashov (RPC) won by just two seconds.
There was another medal for Australia in the women’s C1-3 time trial as Paige Greco picked up bronze. She finished 40 seconds behind winner Keiko Sugura bringing some joy for the hosts and 20 behind Anna Beck (SWE).
The top three finished well clear in the men’s H5 with Mitch Valize (NED) the clear winner finishing over a minute clear. Jetze Plat (NED) completed a triathlon-cycling double as he won the gold in the men’s H4 by a similar margin.
Less than ten seconds separated the top four in the men’s H3 as Walter Ablinger (AUT) beat out Vico Merklein (GER), Luis Miguel Garcia Marquina (ESP), and Ruslan Kuznetsov (RPC). Oksana Masters (USA) won her first summer Paralympics gold medal to go with her two winter medals, winning the women’s H4-5, making it the third sport she’d medaled in overall.
It was a blowout in the men’s H1 as Nicholas Pieter du Preez (RSA) claimed gold by almost two minutes. The women’s H1-3 was won by Annika Zeyen (GER) finishing almost one minute ahead of the rest of the field.
It was close in the men’s B with Alexandre Lloeras (FRA) beating Vincent ter Schure (NED) by just under seven seconds. Another Australian medal came in the men’s C5 with Allistair Donohoe claiming the bronze, Daniel Abraham Gebru (NED) claimed gold in 42:46.45 32 seconds ahead of Yehor Dementyev (UKR).
Slovakia did a 1-2 in the men’s C4 with Patrik Kuril finishing just under 18 seconds ahead of Jozef Metelka. In the C3 Benjamin Watson (GBR) led the German duo of Steffen Warias and Matthias Schindler.
The women’s B was easily won by Katie-George Dunlevy (IRL) who finished almost a minute ahead of the rest of the field. The men’s T1-2 was easily won by T1 athlete Jianxin Chen (CHN) finishing almost three minutes clear. Australia’s final medal was a silver in the women’s T1-2 with Carol Cooke finishing 32 seconds back on winner Jana Majnke (GER).
Pascoe finally gets her Tokyo gold
Photo: IPC
After winning the two other medals New Zealandswimming legend Sophie Pascoe finally got the gold that had been just out of her grasp. For the 10th time, Pascoe claimed a Paralympic gold, winning the women’s 100m freestyle S9.
Javarnmardi retains her crown
Photo: IPC
After disappointing results at the 2019 world championship, Sareh Javanmardi (IRI) was determined to bounce back. She showed she still is the pistol sharpshooter that her 2016 results say she is as she led the women’s 10m air pistol SH1 dominating the whole field.
In the other target sport, archery, China continued to dominate as He Zihao was well out in front in the men’s individual compound open. It was his second gold medal after winning the mixed team event.
Cuba wins at the national stadium
Photo: Adam Pretty
It was a perfect day for Cuba in athletics as the nation won its first two gold medals of these Games. The first was expected, speed queen Omara Durand powering through the women’s 400m T12 to win the title for the third straight Games.
The other Cuban gold medal was something of a shock as Paralympic debutant Robiel Yankiel claimed gold in the men’s long jump T47. He finished just three centimeters ahead of the defending champion, Roderick Townsend (USA) with a Paralympic record of 7.46m.
Morocco makes football history
Photo: IBSA Blind Football
For the first time, an African team will be competing in the semi-finals of blind football as Morocco stunned Spain to advance. Morocco pressed early and opened the scoring through a penalty converted by Zouhair Snisla. Spain came back and got an equalizer through Antonio Martin Gaitan but it wasn’t enough as the Africans held on for the draw to advance at the expense of Spain.
Brazil will await Morocco in the semi-final as the defending champions remained undefeated in Paralympic history. Brazil beat France 4-0 with a brace from Raimundo Nonato taking him to the lead in the golden boot race.
The all-Asian match for a semi-final place saw the hosts disappointed as China used two first-half goals to advance 2-0. Argentina was the other team to book a place in the semi-finals as they beat Thailand 3-0.
Men’s goalball quarterfinals completed
Photo: IBSA Goalball
The USA was made to work for it but will be back in the goalball medal rounds for the third straight Paralympic Games as they beat Ukraine in an overtime thriller. Ukraine was up 4-1 in the second half and seemingly through but the Americans powered back forcing overtime. Matt Simpson scored early in the overtime period and then saved a penalty, the third missed by Ukraine in the match, to seal a memorable 5-4 win.
China managed to disappoint the hosts in a second blind sport of the day when they eliminated Japan 7-4. A strong first-half and six goals from Mingyuan Yang got China moving in the right direction and it was too much for Japan to overcome.
Despite disappointing in the group stages Lithuania turned it on now that the tournament has reached the business end. Lithuania was much too strong for the previously defensively solid Belgians winning 6-2.
Brazil is the final semi-finalist after they won a high-scoring match against Turkey 9-4. Coming into the match in phenomenal form Brazil powered away early and never looked troubled.
RPC and Iran stay unbeaten in sitting volleyball
Photo: World Para Volley
Two straight-sets victories kept RPC and Iran undefeated in the men’s sitting volleyball tournament as the group stage wrapped up. The pair will be joined by Brazil and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
RPC started the match against Egypt strongly and never looked troubled from there cruising to a 25-21, 25-17, 25-20 win. At times it seemed like the winners weren’t even getting out of first gear as they let off the gas late.
With both teams needing to win to advance Brazil’s 3-1 win over Germany was a real thriller. After a narrow 25-23 win in the first Brazil slipped in the second dropping it 22-25. From there Germany couldn’t keep up and the Brazilians won the last two sets 25-19 and 25-18.
Despite two difficult opening sets Iran managed to get past China in straight sets 25-21, 25-22, 25-14. China just ran out of gas in the third as Iran built a big lead and never looked back.
Knowing they were already through to the semi-final Bosnia and Herzegovina didn’t let that stop them and managed a comfortable win over Japan winning 25-13, 25-15, 25-13.
First teams seal passage in table tennis semi-finals
Photo: Remy Gros/ITTF
India’s stunning run in table tennis came to an end on Tuesday as China eliminated India 2-0 in the women’s class 4-5 quarter-final. Serbia also managed a sweep in the quarter-final to seal a medal beating RPC 2-0.
Great Britain had to fight hard to get through Jordan in its semi-final, after dropping the doubles, the odds were against the British. The two fought back and got the singles wins to send GB through.
One-sided quarter-finals set up medal rounds in women’s wheelchair basketball
There was little excitement in the women’s wheelchair basketball quarter-finals as all four games were one-sided as the final four were set up.
The USA won the all North American battle easily accounting for Canada 63-48. Germany made light work of Spain going through 57-33. The closest match came as China got past Great Britain 47-33 while the Netherlands stamped their credentials with an 82-24 win over Japan.
Men’s doubles tennis final set
Photo: ITF
Great Britain and France will meet up in a hotly anticipated men’s doubles final as the two pairs managed easy straight-sets victories in their semi-finals. Great Britain made light work of Japan 6-2, 6-1 before France closed the day with a 6-2, 6-4 win over the Netherlands.
The other final set on Tuesday was the quad singles final with Sam Schroder (NED) set to face hot favourite Dylan Alcott (AUS). Schroder continued his incredible form this tournament managing a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 win over Koji Sugeno (JPN). Alcott found it harder, recovering from dropping the second set to come through 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
It was a rough day for the hosts but they did have something to cheer as Yui Kamiji advanced to the women’s singles semi-final with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Zhenzhen Zhu (CHN)
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