Paralympic Games: Spotlight on Petrillo, Grinham as Gabrielzinho shines

The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris continue to showcase more than just medal victories.

Italian sprinter Valentina Petrillo made history as the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the Paralympic Games. Competing in the T12 400-meter for the visually impaired at Stade de France, the 50-year-old finished second, securing a spot in the semi-finals.

Petrillo, who has Stargardt disease, a genetic retinal condition that causes progressive vision loss, achieved a personal best of 57.58 seconds in the semi-finals but finished third, narrowly missing out on a place in the final.

'Baby hasn’t stopped kicking'

British archer Jodie Grinham made history as the first pregnant Paralympian to win a medal, taking bronze in the women’s individual compound on Saturday. Seven months pregnant, the 31-year-old Grinham edged Phoebe Paterson Pine in the bronze medal match.

“Baby hasn’t stopped kicking,” Grinham said. “It’s almost like the baby’s saying, ‘What’s going on? It’s really loud, mommy, what are you doing?’ But it’s been a lovely reminder of the support bubble I have in my belly.”

Brilliance in the pool

Brazilian swimmer Gabrielzinho claimed his third gold medal of the Paris Paralympics with a win in the 200-meter freestyle S2 final. The 22-year-old, who has no arms or hands and suffers from atrophied legs, clocked a time of 3:58.92. “It’s a feeling of a mission accomplished,” Gabrielzinho said.

In another swimming milestone, Belarusian Ihar Boki won the 50-meter freestyle for the visually impaired, earning the 20th Paralympic gold of his career.

History for Africa in badminton

Mariam Eniola Bolaji of Nigeria became the first African athlete to win a badminton medal at either the Olympics or Paralympics, clinching bronze in the women’s singles SL3 on Monday.

Paralympic record from Costa Rica’s Guity

Costa Rican sprinter Sherman Guity set a Paralympic record in the men’s T64 100-meter, finishing in 10.65 seconds. Guity, 27, defeated world champion Maxcel Amo Manu of Italy.

“I am very happy with this result. I didn’t expect it,” Guity said. “I ran against very strong athletes. It was a Paralympic final, and I had to give it my all.”

Ukrainian carries war message in Paris

Ukraine’s Yevhenii Korinets, now a member of the national sitting volleyball team, is determined to deliver a message at the Paralympic – even if Ukraine is out of medal contention. The war amputee says his country will not stop fighting, both on and off the battlefield.

Korinets joined the army as a paramedic when Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. A former physiotherapist, he sustained life-altering injuries during a fierce battle near the eastern city of Bakhmut in March last year, leading to the amputation of his left leg at the hip.

A former volleyball player, Korinets leveraged his skills and connections to join the Ukrainian Paralympic team for Paris 2024. “Sport helped me very much. As I always say, war is the biggest drug in the world. Sport brings similar adrenaline, similar emotions. It’s not the same, but it’s close. For me, it’s rehabilitation -- both physical and moral.”