Lenine Cunha has been elected to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes’ Council, receiving the highest number of votes from athletes in the Paralympic Village during Paris 2024.

“I am extremely happy and honoured to announce my election to the IPC Athletes’ Council,” Lenine shared.

“This is a moment of immense gratitude and pride. I want to sincerely thank everyone who believed in me, trusted my work, and supported me throughout this journey. I promise to continue dedicating myself fully, representing athletes with integrity, passion, and commitment, and always striving for the best for our community. Thank you all!”

Marc Truffaut, President of Virtus, praised Lenine’s election, stating: “Lenine’s dedication to athletes with intellectual impairments and his long-standing leadership in the Paralympic community makes him an exceptional representative on the IPC Athletes’ Council. His election is a clear reflection of the trust and respect he has earned from athletes worldwide. I am confident he will continue to be a powerful voice, ensuring the needs and aspirations of all Paralympic athletes are championed.“

Lenine Cunha receiving ‘Best Male Athlete 2022’ Award and in front of the GAitos at Paris 2024. Photo Credit: Virtus Sport

Lenine’s election is not only a personal milestone but a powerful demonstration of what he has always advocated for inclusion beyond the sporting arena. As he transitions towards retirement from competitive athletics, his journey highlights that there are many ways to remain involved in the Paralympic movement. Just as he visualised success as an athlete, through determination, hard work, and practice, he has now achieved this new goal. There was no difference in his approach— dream, visualise, work hard, and practice, practice, practice. It’s no surprise that Lenine was the most-voted candidate!

His campaign emphasised the importance of athlete representation at all levels of decision-making, strengthening support networks, and creating opportunities for athletes with intellectual impairments and from smaller nations. Lenine’s vision is to make the Paralympic movement even more accessible, foster leadership pathways, and ensure a sustainable and fair future for all athletes.

With over two decades of experience as an elite athlete, Lenine now extends his commitment to the IPC Athletes’ Council, where he will continue to champion athletes’ rights and amplify their voices on a global stage.

Read IPC’s announcement here.

Day nine of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games opened in spectacular fashion, with two world records and a fifth Paralympic gold for Poland’s Barbara Bieganowska-Zajac in the T20 1500m race. The day also saw stellar performances in the S14 100m backstroke events in swimming arena.

Barbara’s Historic Fifth Gold in the T20 1500m

Forty-three-year-old Barbara Bieganowska-Zajac clinched her fifth Paralympic gold in Paris, maintaining her dominance in the T20 1500m, a race she has now won in four consecutive Games. Known for her tactical brilliance, Barbara led early, followed by Liudmyla Danylina (UKR), Antonia Keyla Da Silva Barros (BRA), and Hanna Taunton (GBR). However, it was her trademark final-lap sprint that left her competitors trailing by a wide 50-meter margin, securing gold with a time of 4:26.06.

Barbara reflected on her approach to the race,

“When I’m running, I hear the competitors breathing. Those breathing hard don’t have the strength, but those who run as calm as I do still have reserves. I knew I was well-prepared.”

Despite falling just short of breaking her world record, Barbara remained optimistic, “It’s a pity I couldn’t break the record, but let’s never say no. I still have a game in Los Angeles, and I would love to go for my sixth Paralympic medal.”

The silver medal went to Ukraine’s Liudmyla Danylina, marking her second Paralympic silver, while Brazil’s Antonia Keyla Da Silva Barros captured bronze in her Paralympic debut.

Gold medallist Barbara Bieganowska-Zajac POL (centre) celebrates alongside silver medallist Liudmyla Danylina UKR and bronze medallist Antonia Keyla Da Silva Barros BRA following the Para Athletics Women’s 1500m – T20 at Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Photo: OIS/Hassan Wamwayi.

Keyla’s First Paralympic Medal – “Worth More Than Gold”

For Keyla, her bronze medal marked a major milestone as the first Paralympic medalist from Piauí, Brazil. Overcoming injuries and limited preparation, she shattered her own American record with a time of 4:29.40.

“This medal is worth more than gold for me. The fight I had to put in just to be here—it doesn’t compare. I was considered crazy for wanting to run, but I wasn’t going to let my dream die.” Keyla shared, visibly emotional. 

Keyla also dedicated her victory to fellow Brazilian athlete Jessica Messala, offering words of encouragement,

“Her day will come, and it will be beautiful.”

Ben Sandilands Shatters World Record in T20 1500m

In the Men’s T20 1500m, Paralympics debutant Ben Sandilands of Great Britain stunned the field, breaking the world record with a time of 3:45.40 and defeating Rio 2016 champion Michael Brannigan (USA). Sandilands surged ahead in the final 200 meters, overpowering Brannigan and securing his first Paralympic gold.

“It’s an amazing feeling. I’ve done a lot of work. I have to say thank you to my family and friends and the National Lottery. I knew I had it in me from all my training. I’ll celebrate with my family and friends,” Sandilands said.

Ben celebrating WR in the T20 1500m event. Photo Credit: Paralympic GB

Although he missed the top spot on the podium by just milliseconds, Brannigan remained upbeat about the experience.

“I fought through hard for that medal, I was happy with how it went. I took it out strong from the start, and I knew Ben would quicken with 200 meters to go. He took off, and I tried to catch him. I fought really hard, fast, and full to the finish,” Brannigan reflected.

“The crowd here has been amazing, and having my family up in the stands cheering me on really meant a lot. It was a good performance, and I’m pleased with it.”

Medallist of Men’s T20 1500m. Photo Credit: Paralympics GB

Sandro Baessa of Portugal took silver, clocking in at 3:49.46, narrowly edging out Brannigan by milliseconds. Baessa moved to tears after the race, said,

“I’m very happy. I have prepared very well for these Games and I managed to finish by setting my personal best. I will continue working to keep improving my time.

“When I finished, I was given a Portugal flag. I’m not one to cry much, but today I couldn’t hold back the tears.

“I don’t have a lot of stamina like my rivals. The best I could do was to try to keep up with them. That’s what I tried to do. I know I have a good final sprint and even if I didn’t manage to surpass them all, I did manage to win a silver medal and I’m very happy with that.” 

WR in Swimming for Benjamin Hance

Benjamin Hance (AUS) also broke the World Record in the heats for S14 100m Backstroke with a time of 56.52sec, and will be diving into the finals this evening. His supporters will just have to wait and watch if he can shatter his own record in the finals.

Paralympic debutant Wada Natsuki created history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by becoming the first Japanese woman to win a Paralympic gold medal in Para table tennis. Competing in the Class 11 Singles, Natsuki not only won her first Paralympic medal but also etched her name into history with a stunning performance.

The final match was a true showdown between youth and experience. Facing off against Elena Prokofeva, the 53-year-old reigning Tokyo 2020 champion, Natsuki had a tough start. Prokofeva’s experience shone through as she took the first set 11-8. However, instead of wilting under the pressure, Natsuki launched an aggressive counterattack. With fierce precision, she dominated the next three sets, winning 11-8, 11-4, and 11-4, securing her place at the top of the podium. Natsuki already had the 2022 Virtus Oceania Asia Games and 2022 Asia Para Games, and now the Paralympic Gold too.

Happy tears for Wada Natsuki after winning her match. Photo Credit: ITTF

This momentous win marks not only Natsuki’s first Paralympic medal but also a remarkable achievement for an athlete who picked up the sport just four years ago.

“My biggest goal was to win gold, but my lowest goal was to win bronze. To be honest, I surprised myself. I wasn’t expecting it.” Natsuki admitted to Virtus. “

Her victory reflects a meteoric rise in a sport she once never dreamed of mastering, let alone dominating on the world’s biggest stage.

The gold medal carries deep significance for Natsuki, who credited her success to the unwavering support of her coach and family. “It means a lot to me. I’m very happy,” she said, reflecting on the journey that brought her to this triumphant moment. Despite initial nerves, Natsuki’s strategic brilliance and her ability to stay calm under pressure became her key to success.

“I was nervous at first, but I got better and better, and then calmed down,” Natsuki explained.

Class 11 medallists- Elena Prokofeva, Wada Natsuki, Acer Ebru and Kanami Furukawa (L-R). Photo Credit: ITTF

Her coach added that self-confidence was the foundation of her performance. “She believes in two things: ‘I can do it,’ and the importance of waiting for the right moment.”

That patience paid off as Natsuki executed a deliberate, tactical approach in the final, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike rather than launching into early attacks.

Looking back on her experience, Natsuki was grateful for every moment, saying, “I enjoyed every match. It was a mixture of struggle and enjoyment, but I enjoyed it mostly.” Her semi-final win gave her the confidence boost she needed to face the final challenge, although nerves remained a constant companion throughout.

For Prokofeva, the silver medalist, Natsuki’s rise was unexpected. “

The main problem for me was that I didn’t know this opponent; she is just 21. You cannot beat someone if you don’t know their game.” ” Prokofeva shared.

Despite the loss, Prokofeva remains determined to continue her career, with her sights set on the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. “I don’t want to stop. My goal is to carry on.”

Natsuki’s historic win is not just a personal victory but a beacon of hope for others. Her rise from newcomer to champion is a testament to the power of perseverance, hard work, and belief. She hopes her success will inspire others to chase their dreams with the same relentless spirit. “If they try hard, they can do it,” she declared, sending a powerful message to aspiring athletes everywhere.

Read more about Natsuki’s journey here.

As Wada Natsuki celebrates her incredible achievement, she stands as a shining example of what can be accomplished with dedication and heart. Her name will forever be etched in Paralympic history, a symbol of triumph and the promise of a bright future for Japan’s next generation of athletes.

The 200m medley SM14 was reserved for athletes with intellectual impairment on Wednesday night, the 4th. Of the 16 athletes who qualified for the final, both men and women, Great Britain had 6 athletes.

The event combines the four swimming styles: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and crawl, in that order.

Among the men, the gold medal went to Canadian Nicholas Bennett with a time of 02:06:05. He set a new Paralympic record, which was held by British swimmer Reece Dunn (02:08.02sec), but it was not enough to break his own world record (02:05:97sec).

This was the swimmer’s third medal in this edition of the Games. He had already won silver in the 200m freestyle and gold in the 100m breaststroke, a historic medal for Canada.

The fight for the silver medal was fierce, but British athlete Rhys Darbey, 17, came out on top with a time of 02:08:61sec, and Australian Ricky Betar took the bronze medal (02:08:69sec, a new Oceania record).

When asked if Rhys was satisfied with his performance, he candidly replied, “No, not really. I would want more, probably even a second. Turns out I came third; Rhys is the better man, and he out-touched me, so I can’t complain. It comes down to my training. Props to everyone else who came above me.”

Despite this, he acknowledged his achievement of setting an Oceania record, saying, “Yes, I’m pretty happy with that. I’m sure that comes along with the Australian record as well, so I can’t complain. Three big major achievements.”

Reflecting on his overall experience at the Games, he praised his coach, Harley, stating, “It’s been wonderful. Harley’s done such an amazing job. We’ve worked on IM for the last couple of months for trials. We’ve just agreed to solely focus on IM, and clearly, it’s shown—from our trials to now, it’s like a 4-second PB, so pretty good.”

(L-R) Rhys Darbey, Nicholas Bennett and Ricky Betar sharing the podium for the SM14 100m Individual Medley. Photo Credit: Paralympics GB

Among the women, Valeriia Shabalina, a Russian athlete competing under a neutral flag, was the big winner in the event with a time of 02:22:40sec.

(L-R) Poppy Maskill, Valerina Shabalina and Aira Kinoshita posing on the podium of the SM14 Individual Medley. Photo Credit: Paralympics GB

British athlete Poppy Maskill won her fourth medal at the Paris Games. She finished the event in 02:23:93 and took the silver medal.

In the French capital, she had already won the gold medal in the 4x100m freestyle mixed S14 relay, gold in the 100m butterfly and silver in the 200m freestyle.

Poppy was pleasantly surprised by her success at the Paralympics, winning four medals so far. When asked if she expected to win so many, she replied, “No, I just thought I’d be happy to get into the finals. It’s my first one, so I was just seeing what happens.”

Reflecting on her recent race, Poppy admitted the breaststroke was tough but pushed through, saying, “I just tried not to die too much.”

Despite winning multiple medals, she confessed, “I’m still nervous as each one is different each time.”

Her favourite medal? “I think either my 100 fly because that was my first world record, my first gold, and my first Paralympic medal. And the team one because that’s like a team medal.”

 The bronze medal went to Japanese swimmer Aira Kinoshita, 18 years old. This was the swimmer’s first medal at the Paralympic Games, as she made her debut in the French capital. She finished the race in 02:25:96sec.

“I’m very happy! After watching the Tokyo Games, I decided to dedicate myself to swimming and trained very hard to be here and get this medal,” Kinoshita told Virtus.

Peter Palos, Kim Gi-Tae, Sam Von Einem and Chen-Po Yen Into the Semifinals in Class 11

Class 11 Men’s Semi-Finalist at Paris 2024. Photo credit: Virtus Sport and ITTF

The atmosphere at Paris South Arena Sud reached a fever pitch as French favourite Lucas Creange stepped into the stadium, sending the crowd into a frenzy and piling the pressure on his opponent, three-time champion Peter Palos. The intense energy not only affected Palos but also seemed to rattle the other competitors.

Both Creange and Palos came out swinging, launching powerful smashes at each other in a fiercely aggressive match. Despite the home crowd’s overwhelming support for Creange, Palos kept his cool and edged out the first game with a narrow 12-10 victory.

The relentless cheers for Creange only fueled Palos more.

“I knew the crowd would be crazy and against me because I was playing Lucas, and I was prepared for it. Lucas and I have played each other many times before, so he couldn’t throw any surprises at me.” Palos remarked.

With his focus unwavering, Palos maintained his attacking style, winning the next two games 11-8 and 11-6, ultimately securing his place in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, on another table, old rivals Sam Von Einem from Australia and Takashi Takemori from Japan faced off in a tense showdown. Despite battling nerves, two-time silver medalist Sam emerged victorious, defeating Takemori 3-0 with scores of 11-8, 12-10, and 12-10.

“I was probably more stressed than nervous, to be honest, throughout all the sets, but it started disappearing towards the end,” Sam admitted.

Reflecting on the electric atmosphere, Sam shared,

“We all kind of knew it was going to be noisy with Lucas playing on the next table and the stadium full of French supporters. I just went into my zone and focused on my match. I always prefer to play in front of big crowds, so the atmosphere was great for me.”

As Sam heads into the semi-finals against Kim Gi Tae, he is ready to refine his game plan.

“Having played against Kim Gi before, I know his style, and I’ll be preparing my tactics accordingly tonight for tomorrow’s match,” Sam said, looking ahead to the challenge.

The biggest win came for Chen Po-Yen (TPE) over Belgium’s Florian Von Acker by 3-1.

The seventeen-year-old Chen Po-Yen, who secured his place for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games after emerging as a victor at the 2023 Virtus Global Games Champion, dominated over the Rio 2016 champion from the beginning and won the first two sets by 11-9, 11-7. Florian made a comeback winning the third set by 12-10, but couldn’t shake the Paralympic debutant who won the fourth set by 11-7 and qualified for the semi-finals.

“I am feeling very happy. I have played with Florian twice before and have lost both times so I was a bit nervous but after winning the first match I was ok. I studied his game this time before the match and prepared myself for the match” 

Kim Gi Tae (KOR) took on Thiago Gomes (BRA) for the semi-final qualifying match. The Granada 2022 champion didn’t show mercy on the Brazilian and took him down with a score of 3-1 (11-9.11-9,11-9,11-9).

“I was very nervous and couldn’t play up to my expectations. The crowd cheering for the other player (Lucas) made me very nervous. I couldn’t focus on my game from time to time. But I am happy that I made it to the semi-finals”

NEXT UP: Semi-finals and Finals for Class 11 Men’s and Women’s match