Paralympics | PB for Daniels, Du Plessis retires at the Paris 2024 Paralympics
- There was a changing of the guard in the T62 400m
- Paul Daniels recorded a personal best and Daniel du Plessis announced his retirement after the final at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday night.
There was a changing of the guard in the T62 400m when Paul Daniels recorded a personal best and Daniel du Plessis announced his retirement after the final at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday night.
Daniels surged to a personal best of 50.63sec as he crossed the line in sixth position with Du Plessis announcing that this was the final race of a celebrated career when finishing eighth in 52.91.
“I’m very proud, but it was hard!” said Daniels. “I came here with a mission and I’m happy to say that I finished fifth in the final of the Paralympics and came fifth. My legs are burning after that!”
Du Plessis said that while his final race didn’t quite produce the result that he might have wanted, running in the extreme outside lane wasn’t easy in such a high-class field. “No regrets though, it’s been a great career. Now I look forward to spending time with my family and I want to say thanks to everyone who has been with me all the way. That includes my amazing coach Suzanne Ferreira, my support team, family and friends. None of this would have been possible without them.”.
Judo and athletics were on the agenda for Team SA on Friday at the 2024 Paralympics. They started the day with four medals – one gold and three bronze – but F38 discus thrower Simone Kruger upped the tally to five at the Stade de France in the evening (see separate report).
Also in action were judo’s Ndyebo Lamani in the mens J1 under-73kg division, and track athletes Collen Mahlaleha (men’s T47 400m heats).
Lamani came up against Argentinian Eduardo Gauto in the round of 16 at the Champ-de-Mas Arena. It was a sapping contest that went to golden score (sudden death extra-time) after the scoreboard had read 0-0 after the normal time of four minutes. The end came at 4:51 when Gauto won by Ippon (O-uchi-gari).
Mahlalela impressed when he finished second in his heat in a personal best 48.65 to qualify for the final. That was the third fastest time in qualification ahead of Saturday’s final.
Words: GARY LEMKE in Paris
Photo: ROGER SEDRES in Paris