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The first day of finals at the paracanoeing competitions of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games history was written. Charlotte Henshaw became the first-ever winner of the women’s VL3, while her teammate Emma Wiggs made it three women’s titles in a row. Hungary’s Peter Kiss was the other gold medallist at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, winning the men’s KL1 crown for a second successive Paralympics. Algeria’s Brahim Guendouz captured Africa’s first-ever Paracanoe gold medal on an historic day of racing at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, while Australia’s Curtis McGrath extended his gold-medal tally to four with victory in the men’s KL2

Paris 2024 brought a debut for the women’s VL3 event, where Britain’s Charlotte Henshaw took the gold ahead of her teammate Hope Gordon, and China’s Yongyuan Zhong won bronze. “We are immensely proud that we have gender equality in terms of events. To be the first VL3 Paralympic champion is incredibly special. I wanted to come into the Games and just enjoy it. I have made a conscious effort to just be in the moment and soak it up. I have got my school friends and family here. They have all been a massive support for me, so I am just so grateful for them to be here today,” said Henshaw.

 

Emma Wiggs won another gold for Great Britain, taking the top spot in women’s VL2 event. This is the third gold for Wiggs at the Paralympic Games. Canada’s Brianna Hennessy sealed silver, while Australia’s Susan Seipel placed third to complete the medal podium. “It's never a guarantee that you're going to get on the podium, so to be there again was fantastic. Every medal is a new, different experience.  It's never something to take for granted,” said Wiggs. 

 

In men’s KL1 event Hungary’s Peter Pal Kiss defended his title from Tokyo. The 21-year-old beat Luis Carlos Cardoso da Silva (BRA) in second place, while France’s Remy Boulle picked up bronze medal . Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games saw the same podium as Paris 2024. “I could enjoy this one more than the one in Tokyo. This one is perhaps even more precious because there's so much work behind it, and also because of the (chest) injury I had a few months before this competition. It's always harder to defend the title than to get it for the first time,” said Kiss.

 

In men’s Kl2 final Australian McGrath won a record Paralympic gold medal, no paracanoe paddler has won more than him, reat Britain’s David Phillipson took silver, with Ukraine’s Mykola Syniuk earning bronze.