For the eighth day of competitions at the Paralympic Games, Wednesday September 1, France could still glean some charms. Athletes who have already won medals in Tokyo are competing in new events, such as Ugo Didier and Alex Portal in swimming, Mandy François-Elie in athletics, and Loïc Vergnaud and Florian Jouanny in cycling. Badminton events also begin on Wednesday.
Para swimming: Ugo Didier and Alex Portal for their last lengths
While they have already brought three medals to the French delegation, the swimmers will have the opportunity to add new lines to their list. Laurent Chardard will start in the 100m freestyle series (S6) from 2:08. He will be followed in the basin by Florent Marais in the 400m freestyle (S10). Already a silver medalist in the 400m freestyle, Ugo Didier competes in his last round of the Games from 2:51 am in the 200m medley (SM9). In the process, Claire Supiot will participate in the 200m medley series. Already a bronze and silver medalist in Tokyo, Alex Portal will finish his Paralympic Games in the 100m breaststroke (SB13), the heats of which start at 3:16.
Para athletics: sprinters in the spotlight
Paralympic champion in Sydney in 2000, Thierry Cibone will open the ball at Tokyo Olympic Stadium in javelin throw (F34), at 2:30. A few minutes later, Timothée Adolphe, Trésor Gauthier Makunda and their guide will set off for the 100m T11 series. “The white cheetah”, vice-world champion in the discipline, will have the fangs to qualify for the final, still bitter about his disqualification in the 400 m series for having lost the link with his guide when he had crossed the line finish in the lead.
Later in the morning Nicolas Brignone and Pierre Fairbank will compete in the 100m T53 series hoping to qualify for a possible final at 12:20 pm. In the T64 long jump, at 1:25 p.m., vice-world champion Dimitri Pavadé will have great ambitions. Finally, Mandy François-Elie, bronze medalist over 200m, will start for the T37 100m series at 2:46 pm.
Para cycling : Vergnaud and Jouanny want more
Paralympic time trial vice-champion on Tuesday, Loïc Vergnaud dreams of securing a second medal in the road race (H5), a discipline in which he is vice-world champion. He will start at 2:30, five minutes before Florian Jouanny in the category (H1-2). Later in the morning, at 7.20 am, Riadh Tarsim will also start the road race in the H3 category.
Para shooting sport : five tricolors engaged
Paralympic champion of the discipline in London, Cédric Fièvre will participate, with Christophe Tanche, in the qualification of the air rifle lying at 10 m R3 SH1, from 2:30 am. Two hours later, Tanguy de la Forest, Alain Quittet and Kevin Liot will try to qualify for the final of the air rifle lying at 10m R5 SH2.
For Badminton : the French start their tournament
Badminton competitions begin in Tokyo on Wednesday. Lucas Mazur and Faustine Noël play their first group match in mixed doubles SL3-SU5, against India, at 11am. At 12:20 p.m., Méril Loquette will enter the men’s singles tournament SU5. The finals will take place on September 4 and 5.
