WORLD NEWS

Paralympic Games end with a Parisian electro-dance party after 2 world records on final day

Sep 8, 2024, 8:12 PM | Updated: 8:14 pm

A view from the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at the Stade de France i...

A view from the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at the Stade de France in Paris, France on Sept. 8, 2024. (Mustafa Yalcin, Anadolu via Getty Images)

(Mustafa Yalcin, Anadolu via Getty Images)

PARIS (AP) — The Paralympic Games ended Sunday with two world records and a spectacular light show during a closing ceremony dominated by French electronic music.

Jean-Michel Jarre got the party underway at the Stade de France, coaxing dance moves from athletes, volunteers and spectators on a day when Morocco’s Fatima Ezzahra El Idrissi smashed the world record in the women’s marathon for runners with visual impairments and Nigeria’s Folashade Oluwafemiayo of Nigeria broke her own world record in women’s para powerlifting.

El Idrissi ran the 42-kilometer (26.2 mile) course in 2 hours, 48 minutes, 36 seconds, beating the previous record from Japan’s Misato Michishita in Hofu City in December 2020 by nearly six minutes.

“I wasn’t running for a time, only for a medal,” the 29-year-old Moroccan said.

Compatriot Meryem En-Nourhi was just over nine minutes behind, followed by Michishita, almost 15 minutes behind the winner.

Elena Congost thought she’d won bronze, but the Spanish runner was later disqualified for releasing the tether to her guide, Mia Carol Bruguera, before the finish.

Michishita only found out she was upgraded to bronze while on her way to doping control.

Tunisia’s Wajdi Boukhili won the men’s T12 marathon in 2 hours, 22 minutes, 5 seconds.

Swiss wheelchair racers Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug won the women’s and men’s marathons for the T53/54 catagories.

Tatyana McFadden, the most decorated American wheelchair racer, was seventh in the women’s race, just over 12 minutes behind Debrunner. The 35-year-old leaves Paris with a silver medal from the 100 and bronze from the 4×100 universal relay.

British wheelchair racer David Weir announced his Paralympic retirement at age 45 after finishing fifth in the men’s race.

Weir won six Paralympic golds, including four at the London Games in 2012, when he won the marathon, but failed to medal in three Games since.

Weir said he will still compete in individual races, including the Berlin Marathon on Sept. 29.

Tribute to slain runner Rebecca Cheptegei

After the marathons, spectators paid tribute to Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who died Thursday after she was set on fire in what police said was an attack by her partner.

Cheptegei ran the marathon at the Paris Olympics last month, and an image of her celebrating was shown on a large screen near the finish line Sunday as the crowd was asked to observe a minute’s applause in her memory. The announcer referred to Cheptegei as a “victim of femicide.”

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said Friday that the city wants to honor Cheptegei by naming a sports venue after her.

Dutch women defend gold in wheelchair basketball

The Netherlands’ women’s team defended its gold medal in wheelchair basketball with a 63-49 win over the United States in the final.

Bo Kramer contributed 23 points and Mariska Beijer 22 as the Dutch made their experience count before an appreciative crowd at a packed Bercy Arena.

Trailing 48-37 going into the fourth quarter, the American players clasped hands as they listened to coach Christina Schwab’s team-talk. Ixhelt Gonzalez lifted their hopes with 2 points on a break, but Kramer responded with two frees and then a 3-point shot to underline Dutch control.

“For us as a team, I don’t really feel like we peaked,” said Rose Hollermann, who scored 17 for the U.S. “I think we have a lot left in our tank. I never felt like we got into that flow state as a team, so I’m really proud that it finished with the silver medal.”

The 28-year-old Hollermann was already looking forward.

“There’s a lot more left for us, and I think that’s a great feeling for us as a team, that we can take that and go back and get back to work,” she said.

Canada lost to China 65-43 earlier in the bronze-medal match.

“I’d like to go back two hours. I’d like to restart that game,” Canada coach Michele Sung said.

Another world record in powerlifting

Defending champion Oluwafemiayo twice bettered her own world record in women’s para powerlifting by bench-pressing 167 kilograms above her chest for another gold in the final for women over 86kg.

The 39-year-old Oluwafemiayo beat her previous best mark from Tbilisi in Georgia in June by one kilo by lifting 166 in round three. Oluwafemiayo then delighted spectators at La Chapelle Arena by adding another kilo to the record in a powerlift.

Iran’s Ahmad Aminzadeh won the men’s final for athletes over 107kg with a lift of 263. It was the last gold medal from 549 awarded at the Games.

China dominates

China claimed almost twice as many gold medals – 94 to Britain’s 49 – as any other country during the Paralympics in Paris.

Altogether, China finished with 220 medals (94 gold, 76 silver, 50 bronze), compared to 124 for next-best Britain, followed by 105 for the U.S. Britain’s total included 44 silver and 31 bronze, while the U.S. finished with 36 gold, 42 silver and 27 bronze medals.

Brazilian athletes won 89 medals, but Dutch athletes won more gold – 27 compared to Brazil’s 25.

Host nation France finished eighth in the medal table with 19 gold medals among its total of 75.

KSL 5 TV Live

World News

The site of the 1956 Cortina Winter Olympic Games’ speed skating venue, Lake Misurina sits at 5,7...

Keira Farrimond and Alex Cabrero, KSL TV

The evolution of speed skating ice: From natural lakes to high-tech oval

How Italy's Lake Misurina, the last natural ice Olympic speed skating venue from 1956 set the stage for record-breaking performances and explore the evolution to modern artificial ice rinks like Utah's Olympic Oval, the 'Fastest Ice on Earth.

1 hour ago

Pope Francis touches his eyes as he presides over a mass for the jubilee of the armed forces in St....

Nicole Winfield, Associated Press

Pope rebukes Trump administration over migrant deportations, and appears to take direct aim at Vance

Pope Francis has issued a major rebuke to the Trump administration’s mass deportation of migrants.

9 hours ago

A Google map now shows the Gulf of America....

Josh Campbell, CNN

‘Gulf of America’ arrives on Google Maps

The body of water formerly known in the United States as the Gulf of Mexico is now listed for US-based users of Google Maps as the Gulf of America.

10 hours ago

FILE - President Donald Trump stands with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House, June 25, 20...

Zeke Miller, AP White House Corespondent

Trump will host Jordan’s King Abdullah II as he escalates pressure on his Gaza resettlement plan

President Donald Trump will host Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House as he escalates pressure on the Arab nation to take in refugees from Gaza as part of his audacious plan to remake the Middle East.

14 hours ago

...

Keira Farrimond and Alex Cabrero, KSL TV

Milano Cortina 2026: Exploring the most geographically diverse Winter Olympics venues

The Winter Games in Italy aren't until 2026, but KSL TV got early access to some of the many venues that will host the events.

1 day ago

Israeli captives, from left to right, Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy, who have been held hos...

Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy, Associated Press

Hamas says it will delay the release of more hostages, putting Gaza ceasefire at risk

Hamas says it will delay the further release of hostages in the Gaza Strip after accusing Israel of violating a fragile ceasefire.

1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

luxury living room with a classic white sofa and sofa, interior design...

Lighting Design

Revisiting home lighting trends for 2025

Looking for inspiration to revamp your home lighting? This article outlines some of the emerging lighting trends for 2025.

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

Paralympic Games end with a Parisian electro-dance party after 2 world records on final day