LAST UPDATE | 31 Aug
IRELAND’S GRETA STREIMIKYTE has finished fourth in the Women’s T13 1500m final at the Paralympic Games, setting a new European record of 4:32.28.
Ethiopia’s Tigist Gezahagn Menigstu stormed to gold in 4:22.39 at Stade de France, holding off Morocco’s Fatima Ezzahra El Idrissi (4:22.98) and Liza Corso of USA (4:22.98) in second and third respectively.
Streimikyte’s existing European record was 4:33.27 from World Championships in Paris last year.
The three-time Paralympian has a faster personal best of 4:29.33, but that time from the AAI Games in Dublin three years ago does not qualify as a European record as it was not set at a major championships.
It was also a big season’s best, an upgrade on 4:35.84, and the first time she has beaten Tunisian Paralympic record holder and Rio 2016 champion Somaya Bousaid.
Streimikyte, who was born in Lithuania but moved to Dublin with her family as a teenager, also finished fourth at Rio 2016, and fifth in Tokyo.
“I am happy [with the season's best],” she said afterwards. “This season wasn’t the best I would have wanted. That this is my season’s best just tells the numbers.
“I am happy that I was able to pull something out of the bag, obviously with season’s best I gave whatever I could this evening. The fourth, it is always a bit painful for me because it feels like I am just stuck in that fourth or fifth. But hopefully not too long more.”
Earlier today, Shauna Bocquet finished eighth in the T54 5000m final. Bocquet clocked a time of 11:50.85 in a race which was won in a new Paralympic record at Stade De France.
The Galway 20-year-old had a terrific tussle for the line with Germany’s Merle Marie Menje, but fell just short of seventh place.
Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner won her second Paralympic gold medal in a sensational time of 10:43.62, with Susannah Scaroni of USA and Australia’s Madison de Rozario second and third respectively. Scaroni was the defending champion.
The race had to be restarted after a collision involving Bocquet on the first bend, but the Craughwell AC star bounced back to produce a strong showing in her first Paralympic final.
She made her Games debut yesterday, finishing fourth in her heat in 12:44.52. Her pre-race ranking was eighth, which she achieved in the final.
“That was a lot faster than yesterday’s heat, I suspected it would go out hard and it really kicked off there at the start but I’m really happy with how the race went,” said Bocquet.
“To be here at the Paralympic Games is amazing and to be in a final is just incredible.”
Bocquet — who is coached by her French father Loic – is competing in other wheelchair athletics events over the coming days in Paris, T54 1500m and T54 100m.
Meanwhile, Irish rowing duo Tiarnán O’Donnell and Katie O’Brien have advanced to the B final of the PR2 Mixed Double sculls.
They finished fourth in their repechage at Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium in a time of 8:40.85. The top two — France (8:29.61) and Ukraine (8:30.81) — qualified for the A final, with the remainder going into tomorrow’s B showpiece.
4th Place for Katie O’Brien and Tiarnán O’Donnell in the Rep
— Rowing Ireland (@RowingIreland) August 31, 2024
They race in the B Final tomorrow, Sunday 1st September at 9.10am IST#wearerowingireland #greenblades #Paris2024 #teamireland @ParalympicsIRE pic.twitter.com/Ln3rbZwGSv
O’Donnell and O’Brien were fourth throughout, with no movement among the placings from pillar to post.
The Limerick and Galway duo also finished fourth in their heat yesterday. Preparation for their debut Games has been significantly hindered by injuries and other issues.
“With four weeks training, we can produce a result like that,” said O’Brien.
“I probably spent about 90% of the year out of the boat. I’ve had three or four injuries, surgeries, illnesses… it’s been just one thing after another. I’m just so delighted that we were able to come here and become Paralympians, and to see our potential as a pair.”
“It’s just a dream to call this our job, for sport to be our living,” O’Donnell added amidst rapturous Irish support. “We are so privileged to be in the position we are in.
“We are going to get to the start line and give it absolute welly again tomorrow, to experience the Paralympics one more time… until LA.
“If Katie wants to, I’m game. I’ve got the bug. My ceiling is just so high. If I can get up to Katie’s standard, we could be world beaters.”
