2024 Paralympic Games: What you missed in Paris while you were sleeping

Australia picked up their first medals in the pool while history was made — check out what you missed overnight on day one at the Paris Paralympics plus full medal table.

Stuart Robinson of Team Great Britain is challenged by Ryley Batt of Team Australia during the Men's Preliminary Round Group B match. Picture: Getty Images

Australia picked up their first medals in the pool while history was made on day one of the Paralympic Games in Paris.

Here’s what you missed while you were sleeping.

MICHEL ON A MISSION

Dan Michel’s bid for the boccia gold medal got off to the perfect start as he recorded a strong 10-2 win over South Africa’s Karabo Morapedi. The world number one stormed home after trailing 2-1 at the midway point scoring nine to zero in the final two ends.

Stuart Robinson of Team Great Britain is challenged by Australia’s Ryley Batt. Picture: Getty Images

STEELERS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK

Australia’s bid for a wheelchair rugby gold medal is off to a rocky start after going down to reigning champions Great Britain. Trailing at every break, the world champions were beaten 58-55 at Arena Champ de Mars. “Not ideal to lose game one, it’s the one we had envisioned to set ourselves up for later in the competition,” Australian captain Chris Bond said. The Steelers now face host nation France on Friday.

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LIFT OFF AT THE SWIMMING

Tom Gallagher claimed Australia’s first gold medal of the Games after winning the men’s 50m freestyle S10 with Rowan Crothers earning a bronze in the same race.

It marked the end of a night where the Aussies won four medals in the pool.

Brenden Hall won his country’s first medal after claiming bronze in the men’s 400m freestyle S9, the opening race of the meet.

Gold medallist Thomas Gallagher (left) and bronze medallist Rowan Crothers celebrate on the podium. Picture: AFP

It was almost fitting that French hero Ugo Didier claimed the first gold medal of para-swimming in the same race at the Paris La Defense Arena.

Lakeisha Patterson came away with a silver medal in the women’s 400m freestyle S9, going down by 0.36s.

In the women’s 50m freestyle S9, China’s Yi Chen broke the world record after it had originally been broken earlier in the day. She swam 27.10s to beat American Christie Raleigh-Crossley who had set a new time earlier in the day.

Australians Alex Leary and Jasmine Greenwood finished sixth and eighth respectively.

Lakeisha Patterson came away with a silver medal in the women’s 400m freestyle S9, going down by 0.36s.

DUTCH CLAIM THE FIRST MEDAL

The first gold medal of the 2024 Paralympic Games was won by the Netherlands.

Para-cyclist Caroline Groot stormed home to win the women’s C4-5 500m time trial ahead of local hope Marie Patouillet.

It was a remarkable day for Groot who set a new world record in qualifying.

Caroline Groot won the first gold medal of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Picture: AFP

HISTORY FOR THE REFUGEE TEAM

The world became aware of Zakia Khudadadi’s story in Tokyo when she escaped the Taliban in Afghanistan to compete.

Now she’s made more history becoming the first medallist from the Refugee Paralympic Team.

She hasn’t returned to Afghanistan since Tokyo and is now living in France.

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Relive all the action from day one at the Paris Paralympic Games with our blog below

Originally published as 2024 Paralympic Games: What you missed in Paris while you were sleeping