An overview shows (From L) Philipine's Angel Mae Otom, China's Shenggao He and Turkey's Sumeyye Boyaci competing in a heat of the Women's 50m Backstroke S5 swimming event during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games at the Paris La Defence Arena, in Nanterre, west of Paris Team SA will have five athletes in action at the Paris Paralympics on Thursday. Picture: François-Xavier Marit/AFP
Five athletes will be in action for Team SA at the Paris Paralympics on Thursday.
Two medals will be up for grabs, one in para cycling and one in para athletics.
First up, Nicolas Pieter du Preez will be in action at 9.30am in para cycling in the men’s H1 Road Race at Clichy-sous-bois
At 10.51am, in para swimming Nathan Hendricks will compete in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB13 heat one at the Paris La Defense Arena.
Imagine breaking your own world record 😏
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) September 4, 2024
That's exactly what @TeamUSA's Noelle Malkamaki did as she won women's shot put F46 gold!
🥇![CDATA[]]>🇺![CDATA[]]>🇸#Paralympics | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/W9zEUQEo2o
It will be then over to Alani Ferreira in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB12 heat one at 10.59am. On Wednesday, Ferreira did not advance in the women’s 100m freestyle S12 after placing sixth in heat two.
Danika Vyncke will complete the SA swimmers in action at 11.07am in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB13 heat one
At 11.09am, in para athletics Sheryl James will take part in the women’s 100m T37 final at the Stade de France. On Wednesday, James crossed the line in 13.69 seconds as she finished heat one in third place behind American Taylor Swanson and Fenfen Jiang of China.
Team SA had high hopes for Mpumelelo Mhlongo on Wednesday in the men’s long jump T64. However, since Mhlongo was competing in a higher category than his T44, his new world record was only good enough for fifth place. He managed a best jump of 7.12m, which came as a bitter sweet effort.
Mhlongo also had his family looking on from the stands, like he did in the men’s 100m T44 final when he won gold earlier in the week.