The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games started enthusiastically, especially in the Para powerlifting, where athletes and spectators looked forward to outstanding performances. But for the French team, the first day of the competition was disappointing despite breaking two Paralympic records and one world record. Alex Adelaïde and Axel Bourlon, the two French athletes in the competition, were hopeful of bringing home the bacon, but the day closed without champions for the host country.
Para powerlifting’s Tokyo Paralympic contender Axel Bourlon was also one of the betters’ hopes of medals for France. The audience inside the Arena Porte de La Chapelle received Bourlon with enthusiasm like a hero of steel strength. The audience was dressed in red, white, and blue, symbolically representing France’s national flag. The enthusiasm of the people in the arena was high; the flags were being waved, and people were loudly chanting ‘Yes, Sir’ as if they had been waiting all day for the fight to begin in support of the local fighter. Nevertheless, as the moment approached, Bourlon had to get on the bar, the entire crowd disappeared, and the silence gave him a chance to get ready for the first lift mentally.
Much to the expected hooray at Bourlon’s first attempt to pull 163 kilograms, the match ended as two judges disqualified the attempt. The video challenge that would have despised the judges’ decision only reinforced it, putting Bourlon in a disadvantageous position in the first round of the competition. At the same time, Kazakhstan’s David Degtyarev, who would later clinch the gold, led as he opened with a successful 184 kg lift. Another serious contender, Vietnam’s An Nguyen, had to leave the competition after failing his first lift at 168 kg, which once again proved how challenging the contest is.
Challenged by this pressure, Bourlon added more weight to the bar on the second attempt and increased the weight to 169 kg. I shall explain the reason based on the belief in his strength and the ambition to move to the next level in the ratings. ‘We do not know what happened to the first lift; I was familiar with that kind of weight, which is why I decided to raise it,’ Bourlon said to the journalists, expressing surprise and anger over the earlier verdict of the judges. But, that added weight did not produce the intended impact. His lift at 169 kilograms was no good as all three judges ruled them out due to the improper handling of the bar with the right hand. The video challenge did it again, and the decision was upheld, much to the chagrin of Bourlon, who now had to resign because his podium dream was fading away.
It was the last lifter by Bourlon aimed at a 169 kg result – the result necessary to enter the winners’ list. Unfortunately, it also turned into a failure, which means that Bourlon did not even get a medal or occupy any rankings. His facial expression reflected his disappointment as he slumped in the chair with his head leaning on his palms and hands on his head as he tried to accept that his Paralympic trip to Paris was over without a medal. That, he said in an interview, was a great disappointment as he did not come here for this; he wanted a medal and the best possible one. I am leaving these games to medal-less,” Bourlon lamented.
Finally, the event winner in the super-heavyweight category was Kazakhstan’s David Degtyarev, who managed to snatch 188kg. The second position went to Pablo Ramirez Barrientos of Cuba, who could lift 185 kilograms. In contrast, the third position went to Jinglang Yang of China, who could lift 179 kilograms. This was one of the most physically powerful performances from athletes, who broke records to create new sports standards while Bourlon and the French team asked themselves about ‘ifs’.
The women’s events in Para powerlifting have also been tight – during these games, Paralympic records were set and broken, and one world record as well. These performances marked the level of rivalry for the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, where outstanding athletes from around the globe have set a challenge to bring human performance to the ultimate best. But despite all these impressive scores, the lack of a new French victory on the first day was a tough task for the fans of the country’s team, who expected their athletes to take the medal stand.
With the ongoing Paralympic Games for Paris 2024 and more days to come, the French team may bag more medals. However, the events of the first day of Para powerlifting, which have been presented, offer a perfect example of how things can unexpectedly go wrong in sports, no matter how carefully athletes and coaches prepare for the competition. Axel Bourlon’s story is yet to be successfully written, but the athletes’ struggle and performance on that day indicate the Paralympic spirit.
FAQs:
- What happened to Axel Bourlon in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games?
- Axel Bourlon, who was expected to be a strong medal contender, failed to complete his three lifts in the Para powerlifting event, so he was not ranked in the competition.
- Who won the gold medal in the Para powerlifting event?
- Kazakhstan’s David Degtyarev successfully lifted 188 kilograms and won the gold medal in the para-powerlifting event.
- Were there any records broken during the Para powerlifting event?
- Yes, during the women’s Para powerlifting event, two Paralympic records and one world record were broken, highlighting the high level of competition.
- Did any French athletes win medals on the first day of the Para powerlifting competition?
- Unfortunately, no French athletes won medals on the first day of the Para powerlifting competition. Axel Bourlon and Alex Adelaïde could not secure a place on the podium.
- What did Axel Bourlon say after the competition?
- Axel Bourlon expressed deep disappointment after the competition, stating that he had aimed for a medal and was leaving the Games empty-handed.
Disclaimer:
This feature gives details of the first day of Para powerlifting at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, emphasizing the French Para powerlifters and the overall outcome of the event. To keep a record of events disclosed during the competition and the results declared and announced by the authorities later. It specifies its objective in the way that it wants readers to become aware of the outcomes and the programs the athletes went through. One would like to state that the given statements of the athletes are personal and contain no opinion of all the participants and the organizing committee. Furthermore, although every endeavor has been made to ensure that the information given here is correct, the information may change in the Games. Therefore, the readers should consult other official sources for the most relevant information.
