If you haven’t been keeping up with the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, girl, you are totally missing out! These games are giving us all the feels with amazing athletes, fierce competition, and some seriously inspiring moments. And, like, let’s not forget the medal drama—because who doesn’t love a little competition?
Medal Standings: Who’s Totally Crushing It?
Okay, so first off, China is, like, totally dominating the medal count right now. They’ve snagged 11 medals—5 of which are shiny gold. I mean, can you even?! Wen Xiaoyan, one of China’s superstars, just slayed the 100m T37 and brought home gold. Yas, queen!
But don’t count out Great Britain, because they’re totally giving China a run for their money with 12 medals (but, like, only 4 golds, so still behind). Hannah Cockroft, the wheelchair racing queen, just added another gold to her massive collection. She’s basically unstoppable, you guys.
Australia is also making waves with 7 medals, including 3 golds. Vanessa Low? She broke a world record in the long jump, so, like, no big deal. And let’s give a shout-out to France, the host nation, because they’re holding it down with 5 medals and 2 golds. I mean, way to represent, right?
Here are the top 20 countries right now:
- China – 11 medals (5 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze)
- Great Britain – 12 medals (4 gold, 6 silver, 2 bronze)
- Australia – 7 medals (3 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)
- France – 5 medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)
- Italy – 5 medals (1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)
- Brazil – 4 medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)
- Netherlands – 4 medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)
- Ukraine – 3 medals (1 gold, 2 bronze)
- Spain – 3 medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
- Japan – 3 medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
- United States – 3 medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
- Canada – 3 medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
- Germany – 2 medals (1 gold, 1 silver)
- New Zealand – 2 medals (1 gold, 1 silver)
- Poland – 2 medals (1 gold, 1 silver)
- South Korea – 2 medals (1 gold, 1 silver)
- Israel – 2 medals (1 gold, 1 bronze)
- Denmark – 2 medals (1 gold, 1 bronze)
- Mongolia – 1 medal (1 gold)
- Switzerland – 1 medal (1 silver)
Athlete Highlights: OMG, These People Are Amazing!
So, can we talk about Curtis McGrath from Australia for a sec? This guy lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan, and now he’s winning gold in para-canoeing like it’s no big deal. Honestly, I’m not crying, you’re crying!
And how about the Refugee Paralympic Team? They’re competing under the Neutral Paralympic Athletes (NPA) banner because, like, their countries are dealing with so much right now. But guess what? They already scored a bronze in judo! Can you say resilient?
Expert Vibes: What the Pros Are Saying
So, according to Andrew Parsons, the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), “The Paralympics are not just about medals—they are about the human spirit.” And, like, isn’t that the truth? These athletes are seriously giving us life right now. Every single story and every competition is a total reminder that the Paralympics are way more than just a sports event—they’re a full-on celebration of what humans can do.
And Dr. Paul Kitchin, who’s basically a genius when it comes to sports science, says the 2024 Games are, like, next level. He’s all about how the technology and training have totally transformed the competition. “We’re seeing performances that would have been unimaginable a decade ago,” he said. And, like, same, Dr. Kitchin, same.
What’s Next: Can’t Wait for More!
Okay, so the Paralympics aren’t over yet, and there’s still so much to look forward to. The wheelchair basketball finals and the marathon events are going to be so intense. Like, Tatyana McFadden from the USA is totally one to watch—she’s aiming to add even more medals to her collection.
And don’t forget the closing ceremony on September 8. It’s going to be, like, a huge party celebrating all these amazing athletes and everything they’ve accomplished. I can’t even wait to see how it all wraps up!
So, like, if you haven’t been tuning in, now’s the time to catch up, because the 2024 Paralympics in Paris are seriously iconic. Whether it’s breaking records, winning medals, or just being total badasses, these athletes are inspiring us all to be our best selves. You go, Paralympians!
For all the real-time deets, you can totally check out the official Paralympics website. You won’t want to miss any of this action.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News