Swimmer Ugo Didier won France’s first gold medal of the Paris Paralympics on Thursday.
Didier, who was born with reduced use of his legs, won the 400m freestyle event in the S9 category and was roared home by French supporters at La Defense Arena.
The 22-year-old student timed 4min 12.55sec, a second and a half ahead of Simone Barlaam of Italy, while world record holder Brenden Hall from Australia took the bronze medal.
Paralympic swimmer Ugo Didier wins France’s first gold
France's Ugo Didier competes in the men's S9 400m freestyle swimming event during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games at The Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, west of Paris on August 29, 2024. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP)
