As the Paris 2024 Paralympics enter day three, here are moments in athletics you don’t want to miss.

At 28 weeks pregnant Britain’s Jodie Grinham has different things to manage than most.

Her baby was kicking while she’s trying to line up her shot.

Grinham narrowly beat Polish Para archer Kseniya Markitantova, 142-141 to proceed to the quarter-finals.

However, her baby was making themselves known.

She said: “The baby’s kicking which is great. We got to the 3rd end and I was like ‘Not right now, mummy loves you but we’ll do kickies in a minute’.”

Grinham will take on Brazil’s Jane Carla Gogel next, in her bid to get on the podium in the first day of medals at Esplanade des Invalides.

Fleur Jong leaps to victory

Netherlands’ Fleur Jong beat her own Paralympic record to clinch gold in the women’s long jump T64 final.

Jong leapt to 6.53 metres (see image above), with compatriot Marlene van Gansewinkle collecting the silver with a personal best of 5.87m and USA’s Beatriz Hatz third with 5.38m.

Jong, who won gold at Tokyo 2020, said: “It feels very, very good, especially with a distance like that. It feels great to finally be able to show a full stadium what I can do. That was really cool.

“I felt like I wanted to scream the whole time just from excitement. But I tried to contain myself as much as possible. 

“Then once it was done, and I’d won, I wanted to celebrate with all the people who came to support.”

Elsewhere in the athletics, Refugee Paralympic Team runner Guillaume Junior Atangan has qualified for tonight’s men’s 400m T11 semi-finals after winning his heat in a personal best time.

Atangan said: “My first race was very good. When I see where I come from, it was not so easy for me to be here, so I am very happy. I thank my god, my coach, my guide and every person who is behind me. 

“The semi-final is in the evening. They [the other athletes] are always very fast, so for the semi-final I have to give everything I have in my body to [get into] the final.”

First Para archery gold goes to China

China’s Chen Minyi became the first Para archery gold medallist at Paris 2024 after beating Pultar Musilova Sarka of Czechia in the women’s individual W1 gold medal match.

Chen, who won two gold medals at Tokyo 2020, took the lead after the first end and never gave it up. Czechia’s Tereza Brandtlova took bronze.

Sarka was aiming to capture her first gold after finishing with silver in two events at Tokyo 2020, both behind Chen.  

After beating Sarka 136-129, Chen said: “She is being much more competitive than Tokyo. I believe that she is quite good and very hard working this time. In normal life, she’s very outgoing and is a good friend with me.

“I’m very excited. I never imagined that I could win this title again. It’s a huge happiness for me to win this title.”

Canada bounce back with crucial win

Canada women bounced back from their opening wheelchair basketball defeat to China by beating Great Britain 63-54 in their Group A game at the Bercy Arena.

Arinn Young top scored as her side looks to regain their Paralympic title from the USA in Paris.

Young said: “We really needed this win today to set us up for the rest of the pool games. I’m so proud of my team. That was a massive team win. 

“Yeah, I scored the most, but I relied on everyone on court – my whole bench. Everyone was my hype man, and that’s why we got that win today.

“I just wanted to go in and be that calm, cool and collected athlete, and I think people really rely on me for that. 

“We, Canada, like to play in space and draw them out. I think that’s what we did today.” paralympic.org

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