Japanese Paralympians Bring Back More Gold Medals from Paris

2024/08/28

Flagbearers Daiki Ishiyama (Front Left), An Nishida (Front Right) Lead Japanese Delegation during Paralympic Opening Ceremony at Place de la Concorde in Paris


The Paris Paralympics were held for 12 days through Sept. 8, with about 4,400 athletes from around the globe competing in 549 events across 22 sports. Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to take part as neutral individuals. Japan sent a 175-strong team, its largest-ever overseas delegation, and won 41 medals--14 golds, 10 silvers and 17 bronzes. The number of gold medals surpassed 13 at the preceding 2021 Tokyo Games, although the total medal count fell short of Tokyo's 51. Japanese Paralympians fared particularly well at team events, reaching the top of podium for the first-time ever in the wheelchair rugby and men's goalball. The Japanese national anthem was also played at award ceremonies in several individual sports. Yui Kamiji dominated wheelchair tennis titles for women, and 18-year-old Tokito Oda won the men's wheelchair singles gold at his first Games. Keiko Sugiura, 53, marked back-to-back victories in the women's road cycling and extended her own record as Japan's oldest gold medalist. In swimming, Keiichi Kimura earned the second consecutive gold in the men's 100-meter butterfly and the first 50-meter freestyle gold, while Tokyo men's 100-meter freestyle winner Takayuki Suzuki became the 50-meter breaststroke champion. Gold medals were also earned in judo, badminton and table tennis.

(AFP-Jiji)

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