Paris 2024 | Para athletics: Raoua Tlili in seventh heaven at Stade de France

A packed Stade de France witnessed a historic morning session with six new Paralympic champions including the seventh gold medal to Tunisian throwing star Raoua Tlili on Friday (30 August).

Colombia (twice), Brazil, China and Uzbekistan were the other countries to top the podium in the first session of the Para athletics programme at Paris 2024.

Brazil’s Julio Agripino picked the first gold of the Games at Stade de France setting a new world record in the men’s 5000m T11 (14:48.85).

It was Agripino’s first Paralympic medal in his third participation in the Paralympics. Brazil also claimed bronze with Tokyo 2020 champion Yeltsin Jacques with Japan’s Kenya Karasawa defending his Paralympic silver with a new Asia record (14:51.48). 

“I knew that this would be my day. I’m only just realising that I am a Paralympic champion and I can’t believe it,” Agripino said. “I have been training so hard since the World Championships in Kobe (Japan, in May) after I got the silver. I knew after training at altitude that this would be my time and that I would break the world record.”

The rain arrived within minutes of the end of the 5000m T11 but did not stop one of the biggest names at this year’s Games from adding more glory to her already impressive record. 

Tunisia’s Raoua Tlili claimed her fifth consecutive Paralympic gold in the women’s shot put F41 with a 10.40m-throw in her second attempt – four centimetres ahead of second place Kubaro Khakimova of Uzbekistan.

“It was difficult for me because I didn’t want any other medal than gold. My dream was the title at the Paralympics. It’s not easy as a short-stature person that is of my age... especially if you compete against opponents who are 22, 25 years old,” said the 34-year-old, after her seventh Paralympic gold (she also has two in the discus event). 

“I am very happy today because I won the gold medal and all the crowd, the Algerians, the Tunisians, everyone who lives in Paris, came and got reunited to watch me. (I heard them saying) Raoua, Raoua, gold, gold."

🗣️"I’m very happy, representing Brazil and for this medal. I run with an injury. It’s been difficult to get back to training. But I’m happy I managed to do it."

🇧🇷 Julio Cesar Agripino (🥇in the men's 5000m T11)#ParaAthletics @BraParalimpico @ParalympicsAmPC @Paralympics pic.twitter.com/3tt5W0Zu9T

— Para Athletics (@ParaAthletics) August 30, 2024

Record for Lemos

Jose Gregorio Lemos took his gold medal in world record fashion on Friday morning. The Colombian thrower beat his Paralympic record from Tokyo 2020 and world record from the Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games to defend his javelin F38 title (63.81).

The second Colombian gold of the morning session came with Erica Castano in the women’s discus F55.  

Uzbekistan’s two-time world champion Asila Mirzayorova turned her Tokyo 2020 silver into her first Paralympic gold in the women’s long jump T11. Her 5.24m jump set a new Paralympic record.

China’s Zhou Xia wrapped the morning session with her fifth Paralympic gold and third in a row in the women’s 100m T35 (13.58). 

All medallists from the day one morning session can be found below.

Women’s Discus F55 Final
Gold: Erica Castano (Colombia)
Silver: Dong Feixia (China)
Bronze: Rosa Maria Guerrero Cazares (Mexico)

Men's 5000m T11 Final
Gold: Julio Agripino (Brazil)
Silver: Kenya Karasawa (Japan)
Bronze: Yeltsin Jacques (Brazil)

Women's Long Jump T11 Final
Gold: Asila Mirzayorova (Uzbekistan)
Silver: Guohua Zhou (China)
Bronze: Alba Garcia (Spain)

Women's Shot Put F41 Final
Gold: Raoua Tlili (Tunisia)
Silver: Kubaro Khakimova (Uzbekistan)
Bronze: Antonella Ruiz Diaz (Argentina)

Men's Javelin Throw - F38 Final
Gold: Jose Gregorio Lemos (Colombia)
Silver: Vladyslav Bilyi (Ukraine)
Bronze: Dongquan An (China)

Women's 100m - T35 Final
Gold: Zhou Xia (China)
Silver: Guo Qianqian (China)
Bronze: Preethi Pal (India)