LOLZLetter 289 | Paralympics Week 1 Recap
Welcome and happy Labor Day for US subscribers,
I'm just getting home from Los Angeles. I would have posted this morning, but my computer died and I figured no one was staring at their inbox waiting for the LOLZLetter to arrive. At least, I hope not.
Anyway, One thing I am loving about about Paris 2024 is the Paralympics coverage and hype. The Paris 2024 Paralympics have been nothing short of awesome, with incredible performances, historic firsts, and world records falling.
If you're like me, you may not have paid as much attention to the Paralympics in previous Olympic cycles, but boy, you are missing out!
About the Paralympics:
It's "Paralympics" not Paraolympics.
The Paralympic Games, also known as the Games of the Paralympiad, are a major international multisport event for athletes with various disabilities. Held shortly after the Olympic Games since 1988, the Paralympics have grown from a small gathering of British World War II veterans in 1948 to one of the largest sporting events globally.
Para athletes compete in ten eligible impairment categories: impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment, and intellectual impairment. Each category is further divided into subcategories to ensure fair competition. Despite striving for equal treatment with Olympic athletes, Paralympians often face significant funding disparities.
I think it may be easy for an able-bodied person to think: I could do what they are. But really, we can’t. These are top athletes and nothing they do is “easy”.
What are the classifications in swimming?
I didn't know anything about this until I did some research. Para-swimming classification is a system designed to ensure fair competition among swimmers with disabilities. Swimmers are placed into classes based on their level of impairment. The classes are labeled with "S" for freestyle, butterfly, and backstroke events, "SB" for breaststroke, and "SM" for individual medley. For those with physical disabilities, classes range from S1 to S10, with lower numbers indicating more severe impairments. Swimmers with visual impairments compete in classes S11, S12, and S13, while S15 is for athletes with hearing loss. There are also classes for swimmers with intellectual disabilities, such as S14, S18 for those with Down Syndrome or combined impairments, and S19 for swimmers with autism.
What are the classifications in Track and Field?
In para-athletics, each class is identified by a code that includes a letter and two digits. The letter is either "T" for track events or "F" for field events, while the numbers indicate the athlete's level of physical ability.
T/F11–13: For athletes with visual impairments
T/F20: For athletes with intellectual impairments
T/F31–34: Wheelchair events for athletes with movement disorders, like cerebral palsy
T/F35–38: Ambulatory events for athletes with movement disorders, like cerebral palsy
T/F40–41: For athletes with short stature, including dwarfism
T/F42–44: For athletes with leg impairments, such as limb deficiency, leg length difference, or limited muscle power/range of movement
T/F45–47: For athletes with arm impairments, including limb deficiency or limited muscle power/range of movement
T/F51–57: Wheelchair events for athletes with lower body impairments, including paraplegia
T/F61–64: For athletes with lower limb impairments who compete with prostheses due to limb deficiency or leg length differencesParalympics 2024:
Team USA's Early Success
Sarah Adam made history as the first woman to play for the U.S. wheelchair rugby team, contributing six tries in a 51-48 victory over Canada. The men’s wheelchair basketball team also started strong with a 66-56 win over Spain.
In para swimming, Ellie Marks secured the first U.S. medal of the Games with a silver in the women’s 50m freestyle S6. Christie Raleigh Crossley followed up with a silver in the 50m freestyle S10, and Grace Nuhfer added another silver in the 100m butterfly S13.
World Records and Gold Medals
The second day saw world records and the first U.S. gold medal. Gia Pergolini claimed gold in the women’s 100m backstroke S13, marking the first U.S. gold in Paris. Meanwhile, Brazilian Julio Cesar Agripino broke the world record in the men’s 5000m T11, and Chinese Paralympic legend Zhou Xia added another gold to her collection in the 100m T35.
Para Swimming Highlights
The pool has had a ton of action, with Mallory Weggemann defending her title in the women’s 200m IM SM7, earning her fourth Paralympic gold. Olivia Chambers also captured her first gold in the women’s 400m freestyle S13, and Jessica Long competed in her first final of the Games, finishing sixth in the 100m backstroke S8.
Watch Guo Jincheng break the world record in the 50 meter for S5. He has no arms and his head remains so still while swimming. It is honestly one of the most incredible things I've ever seen.
Para Track and Field
Jaydin Blackwell broke his own world record in the men’s 100m T38, securing gold and marking the first U.S. track gold of the Games. Brazil's Ricardo Gomes de Mendonca and Petrucio Ferreira dos Santos both continued their dominance in their respective 100m events, while China’s Dongdong Di set a new world record in the men’s long jump T11.
Archery
I knew little to nothing about archery, but wow is Sheetal Devi incredible.
So far, the Paris 2024 Paralympics has been equally as exciting as the Olympics and I encourage you to tune in. Obviously, there is way more that has happened, and I would love to hear your favorite part so far.
What is Keeping Me Entertained?
USMS Summer Nationals Swim Meet
