After fourth in Rio and Tokyo, Chris Hammer highlights Paralympic Tri with gold. Recapping the day’s racing

After a day’s delay the triathlon got rolling today in Paris at the Paralympics and the racing certainly proved to be as exciting as we had expected. Certainly the sentimental win of the day went to American Chris Hammer, who had finished fourth at the first two Paralympic triathlon events. In what was arguably the most exciting race of the 11 medal events up for grabs today, Hammer came off the bike with two-time defending gold medalist Martin Schulz and Tokyo fifth-place finisher Ronan Cordeiro (BRA).

Daniel crashes while in the lead

Canadian Stefan Daniel had ridden himself from fifth out of the water to the lead on the bike, but crashed on the hairpin turn during the fourth lap of the bike, putting him out of medal contention. Daniel would eventually get to transition almost five minutes down.

It was Rio and Tokyo champion Schulz who led the way into T2, but Hammer and Cordeiro were right with him. The three were together through the early stages of the run, but by the end of the first of three laps on the run Hammer and Cordeiro had pulled clear of the German. It wasn’t until the final kilometre that Hammer was finally able to pull away from the Brazilian. After eight years of dreaming of just making the podium, Hammer would achieve much more than that, earning the gold medal after the two oh-so-close Paralympic experiences. Cordeiro would hand on for the silver, with Schulz rounding out the podium. Daniel would post the day’s third-fastest run split to get himself across the line in 10th.

1	526	USA	HAMMER Chris (PTS5)			58:44
2	528	BRA	CORDEIRO Ronan (PTS5)			59:01
3	527	GER	SCHULZ Martin (PTS5)			59:19

Ellis runs to PTVI gold

In another exciting race there were four athletes (with their guides) within five seconds of each other coming off the bike in the PTVI category, but it was Great Britain’s Dave Ellis who would run his way to the win. Ellis wasn’t able to finish in Tokyo due to a bike mechanical, making today’s victory all the sweeter. With four athletes gunning after three medals it was American Owen Cravens (who’s guide is American Ironman legend Ben Hoffman) who would end up missing out as the two French athletes in the race rounded out the podium.

1	626	GBR	ELLIS Dave (PTVI3) Guide: POLLARD Luke				58:41
2	627	FRA	RIGAUDEAU Thibaut (PTVI3) Guide: VIENNOT Cyril				1:00:05
3	628	FRA	PEREL Antoine (PTVI1) Guide: le BERRE Yohan				1:00:25

Rodriguez takes second gold

The defending champion in the women’s PTVI, Spain’s Susana Rodriguez, continued her comeback from a horrible crash earlier this year with a dominant win. She and guide Sara Perez Sala were in control through the entire race, cruising to the gold medal in impressive style.

1	607	ESP	RODRIGUEZ Susana (PTVI1) Guide: PEREZ SALA Sara				1:04:19
2	606	ITA	TARANTELLO Francesca (PTVI3) Guide: VISAGGI Silvia				1:06:43
3	609	GER	RENNER Anja (PTVI3) Guide: PAULIG Maria				1:08:21

Plat takes the three-peat

The Netherlands’ Jetze Plat made it three Paralympic golds in a row as he dominated the men’s PTWC race, finishing ahead of Austria’s Florian Brungraber and countryman Geert Schipper.

1	122	NED	PLAT Jetze (PTWC2)				58:16
2	123	AUT					59:25
3	121	NED	SCHIPPER Geert (PTWC2)				1:00:20

Parker gets gold, impressive bronze for Taylor

Former pro triathlete turned elite para triathlete Lauren Parker (AUS) added yet another impressive performance to her resume (she’s also a two-time Ironman world champion) with the gold in Paris. Parker and American Kendall Gretsch traded medals from Tokyo, with Parker finishing almost 90 seconds up on the American. Canada’s Leanne Taylor, competing in her first Paralympics, took the bronze by just seven seconds over Spain’s Eva Maria Moral Pedrero.

1	101	AUS	PARKER Lauren (PTWC1)				1:06:23
2	102	USA	GRETSCH Kendall (PTWC2)				1:07:46
3	103	CAN	TAYLOR Leanne (PTWC1)				1:12:11

Six years ago she thought her life was over. Now she’s a Paralympic medal contender

Molina tops PTS3

Spain’s Daniel Molina on a hard-fought PTS3 category, finishing 38 seconds up on Germany’s Max Gelhaar.

1	323	ESP	MOLINA Daniel (PTS3)			1:08:05
2	325	GER	GELHAAR Max (PTS3)			1:08:43
3	324	NED	van der BURGT Nico (PTS3)			1:09:24

Ribstein takes PTS2

France got a home-country gold medal in the men’s PTS2 category as Jules Ribstein dominated the category.

1	225	FRA	RIBSTEIN Jules (PTS2)			1:05:47
2	222	USA	LAHNA Mohamed (PTS2)			1:07:18
3	224	USA	BARR Mark (PTS2)			1:07:33

Danz gets long-awaited gold

After taking the silver medal at the first two Paralympic triathlon races, American Hailey Danz took the gold medal this time around in the PTS2 category as two-time gold medalist Allysa Seely took bronze. Italy’s Veronica Yoko Plebani would take the silver medal.

1	202	USA	DANZ Hailey (PTS2)			1:14:31
2	207	ITA	PLEBANI Veronica Yoko (PTS2)			1:15:37
3	204	USA	SEELY Allysa (PTS2)			1:16:33

Hanquinquant dominates … as expected

He hasn’t lost since 2019, and his legendary status had him serve as the flag bearer for France for the Paralympic opening ceremonies. The Frenchman delivered in style, taking the PTS4 category by almost three minutes over American Carson Clough.

1	424	FRA	HANQUINQUANT Alexis (PTS4)			58:01
2	425	USA	CLOUGH Carson (PTS4)			1:00:47
3	429	ESP	RIUDAVETS VICTORY Nil (PTS4)			1:01:10

Norman gets another gold

The gold medalist from Rio returned to the top of the podium in Paris in the women’s PTS5 category. Tokyo bronze medalist Claire Cashmore managed to finish ahead of fellow Brit and defending champion Lauren Steadman for the silver medal. As she did in Tokyo, Canada’s Kamylle Frenette would take fourth.

1	505	USA	NORMAN Grace (PTS5)			1:04:40
2	506	GBR	CASHMORE Claire (PTS5)			1:05:55
3	508	GBR	STEADMAN Lauren (PTS5)			1:06:45