Track cyclist Caroline Groot of the Netherlands clinched the first gold medal of the Paralympic Games in the women's track cycling 500-meter time trial event. Groot set a new world record in the C5 classification with a time of 35.390 seconds. The competition saw French cyclist Marie Patouillet securing the silver medal, while Canada's Kate O’Brien claimed the bronze.
The C1 to C5 classifications in para cycling cater to athletes with physical impairments affecting their legs, arms, and/or trunk, hindering functionality but allowing the use of a standard bicycle. C4 is designated for cyclists with lower limb impairments, such as cerebral palsy or amputations, while C5 is for those with less severe impairments.
In the para swimming S9 category, Ugo Didier of France emerged victorious in the 400m freestyle final, securing France's first gold medal of the Games. Didier, who previously won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games, displayed a remarkable performance, overtaking race favorites to claim the top spot. Italy's Simone Barlaam and Australia's Brenden Hall secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Zsofia Konkoly of Hungary emerged victorious in the women's race.
Further adding to the medal tally, Kamil Otowski of Poland triumphed in the men's 100m backstroke S1 event, while Brazil's Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araujo clinched victory in the S2 classification. The S1-S10 categories in para swimming denote physical impairments, ranging from the most severe limitations at S1 to the least severe at S10.
