Paris 2024: River Seine takes centre stage for Para triathlon
France flag bearer Alexis Hanquinquant is one to watch as he hopes to make a splash in the Seine 30 Aug 2024
Para triathlon embraces the Paris 2024 "Games wide open" slogan with the course starting at the Pont Alexandre Bridge on the Seine.
The event, moved to mitigate the impact of weather on the competition, kicks off on 1 September with all eleven medal events taking place on the same day. Both genders compete across different classifications, with six men’s and five women’s events for up to 120 athletes.
At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the three-part course features a 750m swim in the river Seine, a 20km cycle down the famous Champs-Elysees, and the Avenue Montaigne and Pont des Invalides. Para athletes will then a 5 km run to the Quai d’Orsay, before returning to Pont Alexandre.
Para triathlon made its debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and has become a popular addition to the Paralympic programme.
So far, the sport has been dominated by USA and Great Britain. The USA have won nine medals overall, five of them gold, while the British have seven medals, including two golds. Netherlands and Germany have also put in strong showings, with two golds each. Twelve different countries have had athletes on the Paralympic podium.
Allysa Seely of USA and Jetze Plat of Netherlands won gold medals at both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020: they’re both back to try for lucky number three.
"I expect crazy, crazy days here in the middle of Paris with a lot of spectators,” said Plat. I’m absolutely looking forward to it.”
Five stories to follow…
Hanquinquant the hope for French home victory
France's flag bearer Alexis Hanquinquant won gold in Para triathlon PTS4 at Tokyo 2020, and now has the magical opportunity to do it all over again in front of an adoring home crowd.
“It’s amazing – I can’t wait,” he said. “I can only imagine how lucky I am to be able to compete at these Games at home.
"I had an exceptional experience in Tokyo but because there was this Covid environment, I didn’t know a ‘normal’ Games. So I’m looking forward to discovering it in Paris this summer.”
Weir debuts for South Africa
Kirsty Weir heads to her first Paralympics as a relative new comer to the sport. It’s been quite the mission for her to get here: Weir could not swim and did not have her own bike when she first took up Para triathlon.
On qualifying for Paris, she says there is “an overwhelming sense of pride, gratitude and disbelief that I, an ordinary girl, would be at the Paralympic Games representing her country.”
Ukraine head to Paris after training with Japan
Ukrainian Para triathletes recently took part in a 10-day training camp with the Japanese national team in Okinawa to help them to be in shape for Paris 2024.
"I'm very pleased to be here because people are so kind and are building good relationships with us," said Alisa Kolpakchy from Ukraine.
“I respect the fact that they are training in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar faces,” said Japan’s Hideki Uda.
Refugee Paralympic Team Al Hussein takes on Para triathlon
Ibrahim Al Hussein will compete in Para triathlon as a member of the largest-ever Refugee Paralympic Team. Hussein who competed in Para swimming at Rio 2016 (the Refugee Paralympic Team's debut) and Tokyo 2020 is competing at Paralympic level in Para triathlon for the first time.
“It is a dream and an ambition to be in Paris. I hope to be in the top five.” he said.
Myers leads new generation of Americans
The USA are a force to be reckoned with in Para triathlon, and a group of younger athletes are determined to make their mark at Paris 2024.
Among them is Emma Meyers, who will make her Paralympic debut this summer. After the Games, Meyers has big plans to continue her studies at Colorado Mesa University and compete on the university's triathlon team.
