Long-jumper Vanessa Low has set her sights on cracking the six-metre mark after claiming a third straight Paralympic gold as Australian team captain Angie Ballard whacked the organisation of the Paris Games.
On her first jump at the Stade de France on Thursday, Low (T61), set a new world record of 5.45m.
Her closest competitor – silver medallist Martina Carboni – jumped just 5.06m, further solidifying 34-year-old Low’s dominance across the sport.
But despite winning three consecutive golds while representing both Germany and Australia, Low said she wants to keep driving for more.
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“I love putting myself on the big stage, and I think I can jump six metres,” she said.
“I think this is my next big goal, six is possible, I want to break down barriers.
“When I first picked up the sport we were at 4.5m and now we are all pushing boundaries.”
The long-jumper, who returned to first spot on the podium after giving birth to son Matteo in June 2022, added: “When I went to bed last night, I had a feeling I was going to open up big.”
Low’s was one of three Australian gold medals on day seven.
Lauren Parker won the H1-4 road race road race and swimmer Timothy Hodge finished first in the S9 200m individual medley.
Hodge, who lost his right foot as a child, once told his parents he wouldn’t be good at anything.
After he played his part in Australia’s 34 point 100m relay gold medal win, he now has two golds from Paris
“When I told that to my parents they were adamant, no, we’ll find something that I was good at,” said Hodge.
“It was something they worked their whole lives to give me the best opportunities and find what I was good at.
“I am extremely proud to say that all the hard times and everything was worth it.”
Amid the success of Low, Parker and Hodge, Australian wheelchair racer Ballard was putting competition organisers on notice with a view to Brisbane hosting the 2032 Paralympics.
Ballard, who has amassed eight medals across seventh Games, finished sixth in her T53 400m race.
But Ballard was left frustrated by Paris 2024 bosses for failing to consider the needs of para-athletes.
The Australian team co-captain revealed in the build-up to the 400m race on Thursday wheelchair athletes were only given three lanes to conduct warm-ups.
“We’re here to perform out there, not show you how we can survive that challenge,” Ballard said.
Ballard, who raced in lane nine, had to completely reset her steering in the frantic moments leading into her race because the angles didn’t match the practice track.
Wheelchair athletes have pointed out throughout the Games that the stadium design at several venues – most notably the narrow corridors of the Stade de France – are challenging to navigate.
“You don’t have to add on afterwards… (so) I don’t have to do 57 right hand turns through here (the media zone), which is not good for me,” Ballard said.
“I don’t have to go over crappy surfaces with my very expensive tires that could pop at any moment.
“There’s all these things that, if you designed (with para-athletes) in mind from the get-go, then everyone’s able to perform at their best.”
How Australia fared on Day 8
GOLD
Lauren Parker (cycling, women’s H1-4 road race) – Fresh off her time trial silver and triathlon gold, the uber-impressive Parker smashed the field and won the road race by more than four minutes. The 35-year-old is the biggest success story of Australia’s 2024 Paris campaign.
Tim Hodge (swimming, men’s S9 200m individual medley) – Hodge was part of Australia’s relay team which won gold earlier in the Games but he had placed just outside the medal spots in three individual races. This was the 23-year-old’s first individual gold of his career.
Vanessa Low (athletics, T61 long jump) – Low spoke of wanting to break down barriers and more records after scoring a world record 5.45m on her first jump of the day. The German-born 34-year-old has now won two golds for Australia and one for her country of birth.
SILVER
None.
BRONZE
Samuel Von Einem (table tennis, men’s singles class 11) – A third-straight Paralympic medal for the 29-year-old, who won silvers at Tokyo and Rio. Von Einem lost his semi-final 3-1 to South Korean Kim Gi Tae.
WHAT ELSE HAPPENED
*Athletics – T53 wheelchair racer Catherine Debrunner is emerging as the closest threat to Madison de Rozario’s marathon defence. The Swiss won the 400m race on Thursday adding to golds in the 800m, 1500m, 5000m and a silver in the 100m
* Athletics – Australia’s Jackson Hamilton placed sixth in the men’s javelin F13 with an area record of 59.20m. Britain’s Daniel Pembroke won gold, smashing the world record twice with throws of 71.01m and 74.49m.
*Archery – Australian duo Taymon Keaton-Smith and Amanda Jennings fell at the first hurdle, losing 5-4 in their first-round mixed team recurve event to India.
*Swimming – What were you doing at 13? Well British 13-year-old Iona Winnifrith won silver in the final of the women’s SB7 100m breaststroke. Winnifrith only turned 13 in April.
WHO SAID WHAT?
“I think you need more people with first-hand experience making, being part of those conversations, former athletes, former coaches” – Australian co-captain Angie Ballard leaves organisers of Brisbane 2032 with food for thought after voicing concerns about the Paris Games organisation.
MEDAL TABLE (after day eight)
1. China – Gold: 74, Silver: 55, Bronze 37. Total: 166.
2. Great Britain – Gold: 36, Silver: 29, Bronze 19. Total: 84.
3. USA – Gold: 27, Silver: 33, Bronze 17. Total: 77.
4. Netherlands – Gold: 21, Silver: 10, Bronze 5. Total: 36.
**
9. Australia – Gold: 14, Silver: 12, Bronze 19. Total: 45.
© AAP