Paris Paralympics Aug. 30 recap, highlights: World records fall, U.S. claims first gold medal

After taking bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics, Brazil’s Ricardo Gomes de Mendonca won gold in the men’s 100m T37 final in Paris. Mendonca entered as a strong gold medal favorite after taking gold at 2023 Worlds and delivered in the Paralympic final, crossing the line in a season’s best 11.07 seconds. Behind him, Indonesia’s Saptoyogo Purnomo took silver with a lifetime best 11.26, and Andrei Vdovin of the Neutral Paralympic Athletes earned the bronze medal in 11.41.

Gomes de Mondonca had history on his mind upon winning gold.

“I have revenged the football World Cup from 1998 which Brazil lost in this stadium,” he said. “We lost then, but now I have won and this is our answer.”

U.S. star Nick Mayhugh, who won gold and set a world record (10.95 seconds) in this event at the Tokyo Games, was reclassified to T38 and will compete on Saturday.

Chinese Paralympic legend Zhou Xia took the track for her third Paralympic go-round and delivered with her fifth gold medal. The 25-year-old won the women’s 100m T35 in dominant fashion, edging countrywoman Guo Qianqian by 0.16 seconds for victory.

Another Chinese star, Wen Xiaoyan, won gold in the women’s 200m T37 final, setting a Paralympic record in the process. Her time of 25.86 seconds secured her seventh Paralympic medal and sixth gold. American Jaleen Roberts missed the podium, finishing fourth, but is a serious medal contender in the 100m T37, in which she took silver at the Tokyo Games.

The final world record of the day came courtesy of China’s Dongdong Di, who set a new world record in men’s long jump T11, eclipsing the mark set over a decade ago by American Lex Gillette.