The perfect ending to a Belgian highlight in Paris. Léa Bayekula blasted to her first gold medal at the Paralympic Games with a personal record in the 100-meter sprint. Her gold rush ended in a time of 15″50. Our compatriot thus secured her sixth medal today.
There’s number six!
Léa Bayekula made this Belgian dream day in Paris even more memorable.
The Belgian flew to her first gold medal at the Paralympic Games in the final of the 100 meters. She was on course for a medal until halfway through the race, but in the last few dozen meters she mercilessly passed everyone.
She was clearly faster than the American Tatyana McFadden, the bronze goes to the Finnish Amanda Kotaja.
That perfectly divided competition ended in a top time of 15″10, a personal record for Bayekula. She thus brought the medal tally of the Belgians to 9 medals, six of which were won today.
Bayekula previously also competed in the 800 meters, where she dropped back to fifth place in the final. On Thursday she will also compete in the 400 meters, where she is the world record holder.
Bayekula, 29, suffers from spina bifida, an incomplete development of the spinal column.
Looking ahead
While Bayekula was still recovering from her gold rush, she was already speaking to us along the slopes in Paris.
“A lot of emotions are going through me,” she could hardly believe it. “I want to be very happy about this moment, but I also have to stay focused,” says the wheelchair athlete – who is already ready for the 400 meters tomorrow.
“I’m going to celebrate this with my smile, but tomorrow I have to be fully ready again. Then we can celebrate,” he said matter-of-factly.
| program Leah Learns (Paris 2024) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| sunday september 1st | 800 meter | series | 1st in 1’45″42, to final |
| 800 meter | finale | 5e in 1’43″63 | |
| Wednesday September 4th | 100 meter | series | 1st in 15″87, to finals |
| 100 meter | finale | GOLD in 15″50 | |
| thursday september 5 | 400 meter | series | 13.12 hours |
| 400 meter | final (possibly) | 7:33 p.m. | |
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