The 2024 Paris Paralympics was one to remember. The games featured 4,000 athletes from all around the world. There were 549 medal events across 23 sports. Viewers loved these top 5 athletes.
1. Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araújo
Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araújo is a Brazilian Paralympic swimmer, who was born with phocomelia. This condition has resulted in him having no arms and atrophied legs. Named “rocket man” due to his speed, he swims by undulating his body like a dolphin. He started swimming at the age of 13 and entered the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics at 19. At Tokyo 2020, he won two gold medals and one silver medal.
At Paris 2024, Araújo won gold during the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:53.67, more than 7 seconds ahead of the second place competitor, Vladimir Danilenko. Danilenko took home silver, with a time of 2:01.34. Araújo also triumphed in the 50-meter backstroke and 200-meter freestyle, with Danilenko trailing behind again.
In addition to his standard events, Araujo also competed in the men’s SM3 150-meter individual. Although he didn’t win in the men’s SM3 150-meter individual, he broke the world record for the SM2 category during the event.
2. Matt Stutzman
Matt Stutzman is an American archer who has competed at the Paralympics in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024. Born without arms, Stutzman uses his hands and feet for daily tasks, including archery. Stutzman broke the world record for the furthest accurate distance shot in 2015. His has won silver in the 2012 games along with various other World Para Archery Championship.
In the 5-round final, Stutzman competed against China’s Ai Xinliang, the bronze medalist from the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Both athletes had a 30 point end, with a tied score after the first round. Xinliang led by one point in the second round, but Stutzman came back with an amazing performance in the third round.
Stutzman entered the fifth round in the lead with one point against Xinliang. His one-point lead continued after the final three arrows were shot. He finished with a new paralympic record of 149 points.
3. Sheetal Devi
Sheetal Devi is the youngest Indian Paralympic medalist. She was born with phocomelia, resulting in her lack of arms. She has won medals in numerous competitions, including the World Para ARchery Championship, the Asian Para Archery Championship, and the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
During the opening day, Devi finished in second place in Womens Compound Open Ranking with a score of 703 points, finishing only one point behind Oznur Cure of Turkey. In the mixed compound archery event, Devi and Rakesh Kumar won bronze, with a score of 143.
4. Catarina Guimarães
Catarina Guimarães is an American Paralympic athlete, who has competed in track & field competitions. Guimarães was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects brain development, movement, muscle tone, and posture.
She is a part of the US Paralympic Track & Field team. As of 2024, she is a Paralympian. Not only is Guimarães an athlete, but she is also the author of the Death Garden book series.
At Paris 2024, she competed in the long jump event, finishing in sixth place. As well as the long jump, she also competed in the 400m T38-Women track, finishing seventh, finishing eighth in the 100m T-38 Women event. She also finished bronze in the 200m T38-Women.
5. Katie Holloway Bridge
Katie Holloway Bridge was born without a fibula in her right leg. Due to this, she had her right foot and ankle amputated at 20 months old. In high school, she excelled in volleyball and basketball.
Holloway Bridge won a gold medal in the Euro-Cup and was named Best Blocker in the games. Continuing her winning streak, she won silver for U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team at the Sitting Volleyball Championship. She is also a member of the USA Paralympic team, where she won gold medals at the 2015 Toronto Parapan American games, the 2016 Rio Paralympics, the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, and 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Holloway Bridge is a 5-time Paralympian and also a 5-time Paralympic medalist. She helped Team USA win gold during Rio de Janeiro Paralympics 2016, Tokyo Paralympics 2020, and Paris Paralympics 2024. While in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, she and her team won Silver.
2028 Paralympics
The next Paralympics will take place in Los Angles in 2028. In 2028, we can expect to see more incredible moments from athletes such as matt Stutzman, Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araújo, Katie Holloway Bridge and man other talented Paralympians that push boundaries.
