Rowing gold among 10-medal Paralympics haul
Australia has enjoyed its most fruitful day of medals at the Paris Paralympics to date, with Nikki Ayers and Adelaide’s Jed Altschwager winning rowing gold in the PR3 mixed double sculls.
Ayers and South Australian Altschwager saw off a challenge from Great Britain to record Australia’s first-ever rowing gold, one of 10 medals collected on Sunday in Paris.
The pair’s success on the water at Vaires sur Marne was supplemented by Erik Horrie, who after initially finishing fourth was upgraded to a bronze in the men’s PR1 single sculls.
Italian rower Giacomo Perini was disqualified for allegedly having a “communication device” – believed to be a mobile phone – in his boat during the race.
The strong showing at the rowing was followed by feats across town with Australia picking up five medals in the swimming pool at La Defense Arena.
Among them was Ahmed Kelly, who had been disqualified in his heat over the legaility of his stroke but was reinstated after protesting the decision and went on to claim silver in the men’s 150m medley SM3.
There were also bronze medals for Mali Lovell in the women’s T36 200m and Dayna Crees in the women’s F34 javelin at the Stade de France.
And there was a third-place finish for the team sprint at the velodrome for Gordon Allan, Korey Boddington and Alistair Donohoe.
Elsewhere, boccia pair Dan Michel and Jamieson Leeson are guaranteed at least silver after they qualified for their respective singles gold medal matches.
But Ayers and Altschwager were the main event, finishing strongly with a time of 7 mins, 26 seconds to clinch gold.
Altschwager lost his left leg in a work accident, while Ayers had to undergo amputation after complications from an injury picked up playing rugby union.
“It’s hurting right now, but it was totally worth it,” Ayers said.
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“It (the medal) is a symbol of hope and never giving up on your dreams.
“For every person out there with a disability, male, female, everyone, never give up and keep striving for your dreams and it’ll come true.”
In the swimming, meanwhile, Kelly was jubilant to pick up a silver after his brush with disqualification.
It was alleged Iraq-born Kelly, who was born with no legs and no arms below the elbow, had used a butterfly instead of the freestyle in the final leg.
But Swimming Australia officials protested and he was through to the final, finishing second as Grant “Scooter” Patterson grabbed bronze.
There was another silver-bronze Australian haul in men’s 100m freestyle S10 where Rowan Crothers finished ahead of Tom Gallagher, although he was left feeling he hadn’t done his best.
“When I say today is not my day, it’s still a silver medal, so it’s hard to be too unhappy about that,” Crothers said.
“Everything in training reflects the ability for me to go a lot faster than 51.55 (seconds).
“This morning I went around the same time and it felt easy as pie, so for that not to translate into a faster swim in the final is a little disappointing.”
The mixed 4x100m freestyle S14 relay provided the fifth pool medal of the day when an inspired showing from Ben Hance powered the team, also featuring Jack Ireland, Madeleine McTernan and Ruby Storm, to second place.
HOW AUSTRALIA FARED ON DAY FOUR OF THE 2024 PARIS PARALYMPICS:
AUSTRALIAN MEDALS
GOLD
Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager, (rowing, PR3 mixed double sculls)
SILVER
Rowan Crothers (swimming, men’s 100m freestyle S10)
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Ahmed Kelly (swimming, men’s 150m individual medley SM3)
Ben Hance, Jack Ireland, Madeleine McTernan and Ruby Storm (swimming, mixed 4x100m freestyle S14)
BRONZE
Erik Horrie (rowing, PR1 men’s single sculls)
Mali Lovell (athletics, women’s 200m T36)
Gordon Allan, Korey Boddington and Alistair Donohoe (cycling, team sprint).
Tom Gallagher (swimming, men’s 100m freestyle S10)
Grant Patterson (swimming, men’s 150m individual medley SM3)
Dayna Crees (athletics, F34 javelin) – The real surprise medal of the day. Crees smashed her personal best of 16.84m three times, sealing a bronze with a throw of 17.65m.
WHAT ELSE HAPPENED
* Athletics – Australian co-captain Angie Ballard got her seventh Paralympic campaign underway but was unable to jag an eighth medal. Ballard finished sixth in the T53 800m final, some 15 seconds behind Swiss gold medallist Catherine Debrunner. Ballard will also race in the 400m.
* Archery – Jonathan Milne was bundled out at the last 16 stage of the men’s individual compound archery, losing 144-142 to American Kevin Polish.
* Boccia – Jamieson Leeson and Dan Michel (both BC3) ensured Australia will have at least two silver boccia medals after the duo qualified for their respective singles finals. Leeson must defeat Yuen Kei Ho of Hong Kong, while Michel faces Howon Jeong.
WHO SAID WHAT?
“We are ready to go to absolute war with GB in our quarter-final” – Wheelchair basketball captain Tristan Knowles issued a rallying cry to his side after three narrow defeats in the preliminary round.
MEDAL TABLE (after day four)
1. China – Gold: 33, Silver: 27, Bronze 11. Total: 71.
2. Great Britain – Gold: 23, Silver: 12, Bronze 8. Total: 43.
3. USA – Gold: 8, Silver: 11, Bronze 8. Total: 27.
4. Brazil – Gold: 8, Silver: 4, Bronze 15. Total: 27.
5. France – Gold: 6, Silver: 9, Bronze 11. Total: 26.
6. Australia – Gold: 6, Silver: 6, Bronze 10. Total: 22.
– AAP
