The New Zealand Paralympic team have earned another medal from the track this morning as Anna Grimaldi grabbed a bronze in the women's 100m T47 final.
Grimaldi recorded an Oceania record time of 12.20 in the final to finish third, improving on her time of 12.23 in the heats.
Kiara Rodriguez from Ecuador took the gold with a time of 12.04 and Brittni Mason from the US finished second with a time of 12.10.
Anna Grimaldi set an Oceania record to pick up her first Paralympic medal on the track (Source: TVNZ)
Her success on the track came after Will Stedman claimed silver in the 400m T36.
Grimaldi's signature smile was on full display after the race as she celebrated with the other medallists on the track.
“I was really nervous this morning, but the heat really instilled confidence in me," said Grimaldi. "I didn’t have the best start (in the heat) but I kept accelerating and I got close to athletes I look up to.
“This evening, I knew where I needed to put my energy into the race, I think I got a better start. I would have loved another 20 metres because I think I would have caught another athlete.
The race had a dramatic finish with Venezuelan runner Lisbeli Marina Vera Andrade leading the race at the 50m mark before falling over just short of the line. In visible discomfort, Andrade had to be taken off the track in a wheelchair by the medical team.
This opened up the opportunity for the Kiwi to sneak over the line in lane eight to earn New Zealand's fifth medal of the Games.
The 27-year-old was also one of two Kiwi flagbearers at the opening ceremony alongside Para swimmer Cam Leslie.
Grimaldi commented on the atmosphere inside Stade de France: “It is crazy. I have seen the Paralympic movement change in my time in the sport, but Paris is the next step again.”
This is Grimaldi's third Paralympic medal but first on the track as she also has two gold medals in the women's long jump T47, which she picked up in Rio and Tokyo.
"The 100 metres is a race I still feel like I’m finding my feet. It is scary because it is one and done and not like the long jump where you get six rounds. I am so proud.”
The Para athlete from Dunedin still has two more events to compete in at the Games as she aims to defend her gold in the women's long jump T47 on Friday, and later takes to the track again in the women's 200m T47.
Later on the track, Anna Steven matched her performance in Tokyo by placing eighth in the women’s 200m T64 final.
Elsewhere on day six of the Games, our Para swimmers had a tough day in the pool at the Paris La Defense Arena.
Cam Leslie finished eighth in the final of the men's freestyle S4 with a time of 3:06.84.
“I’m disappointed to be honest, I wanted to go low 3s (minutes)," said Leslie."I had a gut feeling it needed to be 2:50 something to be on the podium but a time under 3:03 was what I was aiming for, not there it is frustrating.”
Leslie next competes on Friday in the men’s 50m freestyle S4.
“I’m way more excited about the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke ahead, it is definitely what I’m here for.”
Jesse Reynolds finished seventh in the men's 100m backstroke S9 final after qualifying for the final with the fifth-best time.
19-year-old Para swimmer Lili-Fox Mason finished seventh in her women's 100m butterfly heat.
Watch the Paralympics live on TVNZ+ and TVNZ1 from August 29-September 9.
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