Day 10 Wrap - Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Our New Zealand team rounded out the swimming at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in outstanding fashion on the tenth day of racing. Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) and Gaby Smith (Vikings) acquitted themselves proudly to both progress through to their respective final.
Cameron Leslie saved his best event until last, taking on the Men’s 50m Backstroke. The reigning World Champion from Manchester last year entered Paris with the third fastest seed time. Leslie swam from lane five of the second heat and displayed his trademark fast stroke rate in his one lap dash down the pool. Leslie was well placed heading into the final 15m, with the World Record holder Roman Zhdanov battling it out for getting to the wall first well clear of the rest of the heat. Zhdanov (42.90) took the bragging rights in the heat, having the better reach in a close race over Leslie (43.05). They were the two fastest overall to be placed side-by-side again for the final.
All eyes were on the centre lanes for the final. However, it was Arnost Petracek (Czech Republic) in lane six, Matz Topkin (Estonia) in lane seven and Angel de Jesus Camacho Ramirez (Mexico) in lane three who got off to the best starts. Petracek used the 15m underwater from the start build up a lead alongside Petracek, with Camacho Ramirez also using an intense stroke rate to try to go with them off the start. Leslie and Zhadnov were back from the three leaders early with some work to do at the halfway mark. Zhdanov (42.30) moved up alongside with about 10m left to the swim, before pulling away to be first on the wall and retain his Paralympic title. Camacho Ramirez (42.70) had an excellent race to touch for silver. Leslie was working overtime to close the gap for third, with Petracek (43.96) putting in the swim of his life to kick his way to the bronze medal, just ahead of Leslie (44.20). Leslie placed fourth on the wall, outside his heat swim and personal best.
Leslie was disappointed with the result but proud of the team.
"Where do you start? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. It's been a rough few days finishing fourth by small margins. We've had a big week as a team and I'm really proud of how we've all supported each other and shown care for each other in those tough moments. It's one of the best teams I've been part of and whilst I'm gutted with results I'm proud of how we've conducted ourselves."
That rounds out Leslie's fourth Paralympic Games campaign, finishing with two fourths, a seventh and an eighth, having made the final in each of the four events on his programme. Congratulations to Cameron Leslie, coach Tom Onley and his support team
Gaby Smith rounded out her Paralympic Games debut in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10. Having already a final in her Paris campaign, Smith was looking to produce another excellent performance in the heat to progress to the final. Smith found herself in lane seven of the first heat. The rest of Smith’s field showcased their butterfly skills to establish the early lead over the opening lap, before consolidating in the backstroke lap. Smith used her breaststroke skills to make a move, as she took water away from Taylor Winnett (USA) before passing Katie Cosgriffe (Canada) over the final lap. This fast finishing during the breaststroke and freestyle propelled Smith (2:38.82) to a massive personal best, dropping nearly a whole second from her previous best to touch fifth on the wall in the heat. As the official results came through, Smith was elevated to fourth in the heat after a competitor was disqualified, seeing Smith qualify seventh fastest overall for the final.
Hours later, Smith returned for her second final of these Games. Smith looked excited and ready behind the blocks as she lined up in lane one. Once again, the field got off to a fast start in the butterfly with Faye Rogers (Great Britain) the standout over the opening lap. Reigning World Champion Bianka Pap (Hungary) then blitzed the field in her preferred backstroke leg to take a commanding lead in the backstroke. Smith had some water to make up to the leaders at the halfway point as she finished with her two strongest strokes.
Meng Zhang (China – 2:26.81) produced a lightning fast breaststroke leg to motor alongside Pap and into the lead, establishing an unassailable lead into the final freestyle leg. Zhang wouldn’t be challenged from there as she broke the Asian Record to be the Paralympic Champion. Bianka Pap (2:29.02) got to the wall second ahead of Lisa Kruger (Netherlands) and Tatyana Lebrun (Belgium – 2:32.79). Rogers (2:33.90) and Jasmine Greenwood (Australia – 2:34.66) were mid-pack after going out faster in their preferred butterfly. Keira Stephens (Australia – 2:36.28) held off Smith’s attempts to close the gap over the second half of the race, with Smith (2:41.19) backing up her personal best from the heats with her seventh fastest career performance in the final. Smith touched eighth in the final.
The action wasn’t completed with all the swimmers getting their hand on the wall, with Lisa Kruger (Netherlands) disqualified which shook up the podium placing for bronze to see Lebrun join the podium. A protest ensued which caused a delay to the medal presentation, with Kruger being reinstated to receive the bronze medal. Smith was promoted to seventh overall, before returning to eighth position.
Congratulations to Gaby Smith, coach Todd Mason and her support team for an impressive Games debut, where she reached two Paralympic finals and secured a seventh place and an eighth finish on the biggest stage of all.
Across the Paris campaign, the New Zealand team achieved seven finals. The team produced one New Zealand Record and two personal bests achieved at the Paris La Defense Arena to go alongside another of performances close to their career best.
Cameron Leslie is proud to have been part of this team in Paris and believes the future is bright.
"We need to remember that the debutants on the team have bright futures. They've done themselves proud and faced tough racing conditions. It's been the most pressured environment I've been in as an athlete in 18 years. I can't wait to see and be part of the future these swimmers have."
Congratulations to each of our six swimmers on the team, their coaches and support teams for being selected to represent New Zealand at the Paralympic Games and for their performances on the biggest stage. We are extremely proud.
Make sure you haven't missed any of the action from Paris by checking out our Swimming NZ social media channels.
You can catch the full results and highlights via the respective links below.
Swimmer Results Summary
Cameron Leslie
Men’s 50m Freestyle S4 - Fourth (37.24)
Men’s 100m Freestyle S4 - Seventh (1:24.03)
Men’s 200m Freestyle S4 - Eighth (3:06.84)
Men’s 50m Backstroke S4 - Fourth (44.20)
Lili-Fox Mason
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 - Eleventh (5:00.42)
Women’s 100m Butterfly S10 - Thirteenth (1:12.44)
Tupou Neiufi
Women’s 50m Freestyle S8 - Tenth (33.40)
Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 - Ninth (1:23.49)
Jesse Reynolds
Men’s 100m Backstroke S9 - Seventh (1:04.89)
Gaby Smith
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 - Twelfth (5:02.31)
Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB9 - Seventh (1:20.72)
Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10 - Seventh (2:41.19)
Josh Willmer
Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8 - Ninth (1:12.73 - SB8 NZ Record)
New Zealand Swimming Team
Name | Club/Organisation | Role |
Cameron Leslie | Whangārei | Swimmer |
Lili-Fox Mason | Wharenui | Swimmer |
Tupou Neiufi | Pukekohe | Swimmer |
Jesse Reynolds | Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato | Swimmer |
Gaby Smith | Vikings | Swimmer |
Josh Willmer | Pukekohe | Swimmer |
Simon Mayne | Swimming NZ | Head Coach |
Tom Onley | Whangārei | Coach |
Amanda White | Swimming NZ | Team Manager & Chaperone |
Graeme White | Support Staff |
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