PARIS (AP) — After helping Australia secure a bronze medal in wheelchair rugby at the Paralympics on Monday, Ella Sabljak celebrated by raising her arms in triumph. However, her mind quickly shifted to her desire to promote and expand the sport.
Being one of just three women on the Australian team, Sabljak is hopeful that their recent success can inspire more women and girls to get involved in wheelchair rugby. “I truly hope that’s the case. We have a vast number of women and girls showing interest,” she expressed after their thrilling 50-48 victory. “Going forward, we need to focus on including women in every aspect of our team development.”
The other female athletes on the 12-member team were Emilie Miller and Shae Graham. This represented the highest number of female players from any nation competing in the mixed-gender, yet predominantly male, category of wheelchair rugby in Paris.
“Our team capitalizes on our strengths. They never limit us,” Sabljak stated about their contributions. “They recognize my strengths, just as they do with Shae and Emilie.”
Sabljak is aiming for gender balance in teams, envisioning a future where both men and women are equally represented. “That’s a lofty goal, but I’d love to see it happen,” she remarked. “The next Paralympics are in LA, four years from now, so anything is possible!”
In related news, two other women also claimed medals in wheelchair rugby: Kae Kurahashi won gold for Japan in a match against the United States, defeating a team that included Sarah Adam by a score of 48-41.
Pregnant Archer Wins Gold
Pregnant archer Jodie Grinham secured gold in the mixed team compound event, partnering with British teammate Nathan Macqueen to achieve a narrow 155-151 victory over Iran.
Grinham, who is seven months pregnant, celebrated this success following her bronze medal earned in the women’s individual compound event just days earlier.
Transgender Athlete Misses Final
Italian runner Valentina Petrillo, a transgender athlete, was unable to progress to the final of the women’s 400 meters in her classification for visually impaired competitors.
At 50 years old, Petrillo, who transitioned after being raised as a boy, finished third in her semifinal heat with a personal best of 57.58 seconds.
While World Athletics has ruled that transgender women cannot compete in the female category at international events if they transitioned after puberty, the corresponding body for para-athletics, World Para Athletics, has not enacted similar regulations.
Brazil’s Winning Streak Continues
In blind soccer group play, Brazil achieved a convincing 3-0 victory over host nation France, maintaining an unbeaten record in Paralympic competition since blind soccer’s introduction in 2004.
Pursuing their sixth consecutive gold medal, the Brazilian team is led by Jefferson Goncalves Mizael Oliveira, known as Jefinho. The speedy 34-year-old is aiming for his fifth consecutive gold medal.
Woodhall Finishes Sixth in the 100m
Hunter Woodhall aimed to follow in his wife’s footsteps by clinching an Olympic medal but ultimately finished sixth in the 100 meters. He is married to long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall, who secured gold at the Olympics last month.
Woodhall, who holds the classification of double amputee in the T62 category, recorded a time of 10.96 seconds, while Costa Rican runner Sherman Isidro set a new Paralympic record with a winning time of 10.65 seconds.
Born with a condition that resulted in the absence of fibulas in both legs, Woodhall underwent amputations below his knees.
Triathlon Finally Begins
Triathlon events in the Seine River were eventually cleared to proceed, with local favorite Alexis Hanquinquant igniting the crowd’s excitement as he competed.
Hanquinquant celebrated with raised arms, pointing to his name amidst cheers from the enthusiastic audience. “The support from the crowd was amazing,” said Hanquinquant, who participated in the PTS4 class. “Competing at home is truly special.”
Having his right leg amputated below the knee in 2013 after an agricultural accident, Hanquinquant showcased his determination.
For classifications PTS2 to 5, athletes with varying limitations in their limbs do not require a handcycle or racing chair for cycling and running segments. Modifications for bikes and prosthetic legs are permitted.
The triathlon events had been delayed from Sunday due to concerns about water safety in the river—heavy rainfall had caused harmful runoff to enter the water, increasing bacteria levels.
US Achieves First Badminton Medal
Miles Krajewski and Jayci Simon made history by winning the United States’ first badminton medals with a silver in the mixed doubles SH6 category for athletes with short stature.
The young duo, both 19 years old, were defeated in the final by China’s Lin Naili and Li Fengmei at Porte de la Chapelle Arena in northern Paris, but their silver medal was a rewarding achievement after they qualified for the competition by securing the last available spot back in April.
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This report was contributed to by Associated Press writer Tom Nouvian, along with Penn State and University of Georgia students Jack Rachinsky and Jack Leo.
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