Ihar Boki is now the most successful gold prospector in the history of the Paralympic Games. In six days, in the Paris La Défense Arena, the Belarusian swimmer added five gold medals to his collection started at the London Games in 2012, now rich with 21 titles.
Read also | 2024 Paralympic Games: cyclist Alexandre Léauté crowned in the pursuit; taekwondo player Djelika Diallo silver medalist after her defeat in the final… Relive the second day of the events
Add to your selections
On Tuesday, September 3, no one made the double defending champion tremble in the 200m individual medley (S13 category, reserved for the visually impaired): Boki touched the wall (2 min 02 s 03) – a world record to boot – ahead of the Frenchman Alex Portal (2 min 06 s 66) and the Russian Vladimir Sotnikov (2 min 06 s 66). The “Belarusian Phelps” had already proven untouchable in the 400m freestyle, the 100m backstroke and the 50m freestyle. In the 100m butterfly on August 29, Portal almost brought down the tsar, but gold slipped through his fingers, at the touchline.
“He has monstrous aquatic qualities in all strokes, 21 gold medals at the Games, it’s crazy. On the one hand I’m super proud to be able to swim with a guy like that who pushes me to give it my all, on the other hand, sometimes I get a little pissed off, admitted Tuesday evening, with a nervous laugh, Portal, 22 years old, who concluded his Games with a fourth medal (three silver, one bronze), each time beaten by his elder (30 years old). But I am convinced that one day I will have him, even if he is ultra strong, he is not untouchable.”
Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers 2024 Paralympic Games: Ugo Didier and Alex Portal launch French swimming’s quest for medals
Add to your selections
For more than a decade, the 1.90 m swimmer has reigned supreme in his category, versatile in all four strokes. In his country, “the torpedo of Babruysk”, one of his nicknames, is decorated with the Order of Merit to the Fatherland and has a stamp bearing his image.
But since the start of the Paralympic Games, Ihar Boki has not been allowed to hear his national anthem, nor to see the green and red Belarusian flag raised when he climbs onto the podium. Instead, the audience sees a white flag with the acronym NPA (Neutral Paralympic Athlete) written on it as the Paralympic anthem plays. “Of course, it’s a little sad not to see your flag, but everyone knows us, everyone supports us,” evacuated the athlete, dressed in a neutral lilac-colored tracksuit, on Friday in front of three journalists including The World. His victories are also not counted in the medal table.
Ninety-six Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Games
Officially, the Belarusian is not representing his country in Paris. Russia and its ally Belarus have not received a formal invitation to the Olympic and Paralympic Games since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
You have 54.15% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
