There is magic in the air in Paris and the Paralympians are feeling it. That’s the assessment of the New Zealand team, with many admitting they have been almost overwhelmed by the crowds and the chaos of this games.
For those returning to the Paralympics, Paris could not be more different to the Tokyo experience curtailed by Covid. It is not hard to imagine or indeed to see the stark contrast, but what is worth noting is the way French fans have embraced this event.
Three-time Paralympian and silver medallist Kate Horan, who has been a fixture of TVNZ’s coverage of the games over the first four days, spoke passionately about the way Paris has embraced each and every event.
“When I entered the stadium in Athens in 2004, I could see my mum and dad in the stands because they were pretty much the only ones there.
“Look at the Stade de France now and just try to imagine how this must feel for the athletes there, how incredible it would be on all the senses.”
Watch the Paralympics live on TVNZ+ and TVNZ1 from August 29-September 9.
It was fitting that Kate was on hand to watch Danielle Aitchison emulate her own achievement with silver in the T36 200 metres. Aitchison, who in the heats had smashed the Paralympic record, went toe to toe with China’s Shi Yiting but couldn’t muster the finish required to be ahead at the post. Afterwards, she admitted to having mixed emotions, but the emotion that will be remembered most was that of Yiting.
It was an image for the ages, the victor in the arms of the vanquished, Yiting completely exhausted and seemingly unable to hold her own weight. Aitchison, herself out of breath and no doubt alone in her world of what might have been stood and cradled the gold medallist for what felt like an eternity. When Yiting finally broke away from the embrace, she fell to the track in pain.
It is for images like this that the crowds have come. And those images are everywhere – from the velodrome to the Stade de France, from the Boccia courts to the rowing course, these games feel imbued with a special kind of meaning, almost as if winter has given way to a fresh spring, one in which the buds of newfound respect have bloomed before our very eyes.
It is often very easy to forget the pageantry of an opening ceremony, to put all the choreography and music, the lights and pyrotechnics, the processions and the podium announcements in the ‘that was nice’ file and move right along. But there was a message to “Paradox”, as the ceremony was so aptly named, that sent a ripple through a sea of apathy, which in turn has formed a tsunami of support.
“Paradox” led the viewer from discord to concord, from an ignorance of disability to a society of inclusion and understanding. One of the most confronting statistics that the ceremony revealed was that 15% of the world’s population lives with disability or impairment. That is a staggering statistic, but one that reminds us that attitudes can often be the most limiting factor in life.
There is no issue with attitude when it comes to these games, and that is why the fans are flocking to the action. New Zealand has now banked three medals – Anna Taylor and Aitchison claiming silver and Nicole Murray taking bronze overnight in the C5 3000 metres individual pursuit.
Nicole Murray’s pathway to the bronze is even more incredible when you consider this: her qualifying ride was made without her prosthetic.
It transpires that Murray had left her track attachment (allowing her to leverage the bike out of the gate and to keep it as aerodynamic as possible during the race) in her room. She only discovered her mistake 40 minutes before the most important ride of the event. Her team, keeping her calm, were able to fit her road bike attachment in time for qualifying, but it meant Murray was unable to stay out of the saddle for more than a few turns of the pedal.
Through all of that, with everything against her, Murray calmly lowered her national record, qualified for the bronze medal ride, and obliterated her Italian opponent, Claudia Cretti.
There will be plenty more to enjoy as the games continue, but as long as the tricolours continue to fly and the fans continue to flock to venues across Paris, we can be assured that this will go down as the most incredible Paralympic games to date.
Los Angeles will now be on notice: top this if you can. And here’s hoping you can, can.
Watch the Paralympics live on TVNZ+ and TVNZ1 from August 29-September 9.
SHARE ME