The Paralympics continue overnight as day two brings more of our Kiwi Para athletes start their bids for medals at the Games in Paris.
Seven members of the NZ Paralympic Team are in action on a busy day two of the programme.
Three Kiwi Para swimmers are in action at the Paris La Defense Arena with three-time Paralympic champion Cameron Leslie competing in the heats of the Men’s 100m Freestyle S4. Leslie was also the flagbearer for the opening ceremony on Thursday.
Paralympic debutants Gaby Smith and Josh Willmer also get underway in the pool.
Smith, 18, is the youngest member of the NZ Paralympic Team and is competing in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB9.
Willmer won gold in the Men's 100m Breaststroke SB8 at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and has a chance to take home a medal in that event early Saturday morning if he qualifies for the final.
The finals of all three events will be held later in the day two schedule.
Wojtek Czyz returns to the badminton court taking on European silver medallist Oleksandr Chyrkov of Ukraine in his second group B match.
A close friend of Czyz is former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who watched from the stands at Porte de La Chapelle Arena last night as the Kiwi went down in his opening match to Daniel Bethell of Great Britain 21-5, 21-2.
Nicole Murray kicked off our Kiwi Para Track Cycling yesterday at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome and more Kiwis take to the track on day two.
Anna Taylor competes in the Women’s C4 3000m Individual Pursuit and another Paralympic debutant Devon Briggs, is in the Men’s C3 3000m Individual Pursuit.
Para shooter Michael Johnson opens his programme at Paris 2024 in the R4 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2. Johnson is making history in the French capital achieving a landmark record-equalling sixth competitive appearance by a New Zealand athlete at a Paralympic Games. The Kiwi claimed gold at Athens 2004 and also took home bronze medals in the event at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Watch the Paralympics live on TVNZ+ and TVNZ1 from August 29-September 9.
Athletes in action - Friday, August 30
7:45pm
Para Swimming: Cameron Leslie in Men’s 100m Freestyle S4 heats at Paris La Defense Arena
Para Swimming: Gaby Smith in Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB9 heats at Paris La Defense Arena
Para Swimming: Josh Willmer in Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8 heats at Paris La Defense Arena
8:30pm
Para Badminton: Wojtek Czyz in Men's Group B Pool Play against Oleksandr Chyrkov of Ukraine at Porte de La Chapelle Arena
10:10pm
Para Cycling Track: Anna Taylor in Women's C4 3000m Individual Pursuit at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome
Para Cycling Track: Devon Briggs in Men’s C3 3000m Individual Pursuit at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome
Saturday, August 31
2:05am
Shooting Para Sport: Michael Johnson in R4 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2 at Chateauroux Shooting Centre
3:30am
Para Swimming: Cameron Leslie in Men’s 100m Freestyle S4 final at Paris La Defense Arena (if qualified)
Para Swimming: Gaby Smith in Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB9 final at Paris La Defense Arena (if qualified)
Para Swimming: Josh Willmer in Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8 final at Paris La Defense Arena (if qualified)
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