Latin America at the Paralympics: What you missed in the final week of Paris 2024

Paris 2024 came to an official end at the Stade de France stadium on Sunday, where Paralympic delegations, world leaders and artists gathered to give way to the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. 

During the final week, Latin American athletes continued getting unprecedented results. For one, Colombia reached seven gold medals, beating its record from the 2020 Tokyo Games. Brazil also won a record-making 25 gold medals and 89 total. 

At the final medal table, Brazil led the region, ranked fifth just under China, Great Britain, the United States and the Netherlands. Colombia followed with 28 total medals, and Cuba with 10. 

Beyond classifying athletes within their disciplines, the Games also consider varying levels of ability. Athletes go through the classification process before the competitions start, during which they are allocated a sport class in accordance with the degree and nature of their eligible impairments. In turn, there is no single classification system for all sports. 

The following chart shows the classifications that are featured in this article:

Latin America Reports summarized the main triumphs for the region in the Paris 2024 Paralympics every week. The information has been compiled directly from the Paralympics’ official website.

Argentina 

Argentina kicked off the last week of the Games with a bronze medal, won by Iñaki Basiloff in the men’s 400m freestyle S7 swimming final on September 2. Fernando Vázquez also won bronze in men’s long jump T12 on the same day, with a distance of 6.88 meters. 

On September 3, Brian Impellizzeri earned Argentina’s second gold medal at the 2024 Games in the men’s long jump T37 with a distance of 6.42 meters. Alexis Chávez also scored bronze in the men’s 400m T36 final, with a time of 11.88. 

Hernán Urra scored the country’s first silver on the evening of September 5 at the men’s shot put F35 athletics final, with a distance of 16.11 meters. Earlier in the day, the mixed pairs BC3 boccia team defeated Thailand with a score of 4-2, earning bronze. 

Paula Gómez also won bronze in the women’s 57kg J1 judo final against Canada, with a score of 11-1. 

Argentina’s final medals at the Games came on September 7, when the men’s blind football team won silver against France, as well as Alexis Chávez in the men’s 100m T36 athletics final. The country also scored bronze in the men’s singles wheelchair tennis discipline, represented by Gustavo Fernández. 

Brazil

With the best record for a Latin American country at Paris 2024, Brazil earned 89 total medals; 25 gold medals, 26 silver, and 38 bronze. 

The country won gold in women’s discus throw F53, with representation from Elizabeth Rodrigues on September 2. On the same day, Gabriel Araújo also earned gold in the men’s 200m freestyle S2 discipline, with a time of 3:58.92. 

Maria Carolina Gomes Santiago won gold in women’s 50m Freestyle S13 swimming, as did Claudiney Batista in men’s discus throw F56, with a distance of 46.86 meters. 

On the same day, Aser Almeida won silver in the men’s long jump T36 final with a distance of 5.76 meters, just under Evgenii Torsunov, a Neutral Paralympic Athlete (NPA). Ronan Cordeiro also scored silver in the men’s Individual PTS5 triathlon discipline, with a time of 59:01. 

Elisabeth Rodrigues won another medal on September 2, this time silver, at the women’s shot put F54 discipline. Vinícius Gonçalves also won bronze at the men’s 100m T63 final with a time of 12.10. 

The country was doubly represented at the women’s 100m breaststroke SB14 swimming final by twins Débora and Beatriz Carneiro; Débora won silver with a time of 1:16.02, and Beatriz won bronze with a time of 1:16.46. Another bronze medal was secured by Vitor Tavares in the men’s singles SH6 badminton discipline. 

September 3 marked another stellar day for Brazil. The country was again represented twice at the men’s 1500m T11 athletics final, with Yeltsin Jacques’ gold and Júlio Agripino’s bronze. Rayane Soares da Silva won silver in the women’s 100m T13 final, as did Raíssa Rocha Machado in women’s javelin throw F56. 

Jerusa Geber dos Santos also won gold in the women’s 100m T11 final with a time of 11.83, and Mateus Evangelista won bronze in men’s long jump T37 with a distance of 6.20 meters. Brazil ended the day by securing two more bronze medals by Mayara Do Amaral in the women’s 50m butterfly S6 swimming final, and Mariana Ribeiro in women’s 100m backstroke S9. 

Wenna Brito won silver in women’s shot put F32, as did the mixed 4×100 freestyle relay team, Patrícia Pereira in women’s 50m breaststroke SB3, and Bartolomeu Chaves in men’s 400m T37 athletics. 

The day also marked four more bronze medals for Brazil: Mariana Ribeiro in women’s 100m freestyle S9, Arisovaldo Fernandes in men’s 100m T53, Verônica Hipólito in women’s 100m T36, and Lara Lima in women’s 41kg powerlifting. 

On September 5, Brazil scored three silver and two bronze medals. Cecília Jerônimo de Araújo won silver in women’s 50m freestyle S8, as well as Talisson Glock in men’s 100m freestyle S6 swimming. 

Bronze was won by the men’s goalball team against China with a score of 5-3, and by Rosicleide Silva de Andrade in women’s 48kg judo with a score of 10-0 against Argentina’s Rocío Ledesma. 

Alana Maldonado won gold in the women’s 70kg J2 judo discipline on September 6, and Thiago Paulino dos Santos scored silver in the men’s shot put F57 final with a distance of 15.06 meters. Zileide Cassiano also scored silver in women’s long jump T20 with a distance of 5.76 meters. 

Gabriel Bandeira and Brenda Freitas added to the country’s silver medal count, in men’s 100m backstroke S14 and women’s 70kg J1 judo, respectively. Maria Costa finalized the day with bronze in women’s 67kg powerlifting, as did Antonia Keyla Da Silva Barros in women’s 1500m T20 athletics. 

For the final two days of the Games, Brazil added eight gold, three silver and one bronze medal to its collection. Jerusa Geber dos Santos won gold in women’s 200m T11 athletics, as did Mariana D’Andrea in the women’s 73kg powerlifting final. 

Brazil continued shining in judo. Rebeca De Souza Silva won gold in women’s +70kg J2 on September 7, as did Wilians Araújo in men’s +90kg J1 and Arthur Cavalcante in men’s 90kg J1. Erika Zoaga also won silver in women’s +70kg J1. 

Luis Cardoso won silver as well at the men’s KL1 200m canoe sprint final, and the country was once again doubly represented in a podium. In the men’s 200m T37 final, Ricardo Gomes de Mendonça won silver, and Christian Luiz Da Costa won bronze.

Thomaz de Moraes won bronze in men’s 400m T47 on September 7, in addition to Fernando Rufino’s gold and Igor Tofalini’s silver in men’s VL2 200m canoe sprint on September 8. To finish the Games, Tayana Madeiros secured the gold in the women’s 86kg powerlifting discipline.

Chile

The ‘rocket man’ Alberto Abarza won bronze in the men’s 200m freestyle S2 final on September 2, and Katherinne Wollermann won the country’s gold in the women’s KL1 200m canoe sprint on September 8. 

Other notable achievements include Francisca Mardones’ Paralympic Diploma in the women’s shot put F54 athletics final, as well as Camila Campos’ at the women’s 50kg powerlifting final.

Colombia

Colombia reached its highest-ever ranking at any Paralympic Games in spot 19 with seven gold, seven silver and 14 bronze medals. 

The country’s first medal in the second week of the Games was earned by Jhon Obando, who won gold in the men’s 400m T20 athletics final on September 3 with a time of 48.09. Obando was followed by Nelson Crispín’s silver in men’s 50m butterfly S6 swimming, and Juan Alejandro Campas Sánchez’ bronze in the men’s 400m T38 final. 

On September 4, Carlos Serrano scored silver in the men’s 50m freestyle S7 discipline with a time of 27.60. Colombia was also doubly represented in the men’s javelin throw F34 podium, with Mauricio Valencia’s silver and Diego Meneses’ bronze. José Lemos also scored bronze at the men’s long jump T38 final, with a distance of 6.40 meters. 

Colombia joined Brazil in having siblings on the same podium on September 5 with Leidy and Edilson Chica Chica’s gold medal in the mixed boccia BC4 match after they beat Hong Kong 6-1. Later in the day, Karen Palomeque scored bronze in the women’s long jump T38 final, as well as Buinder Bermúdez in men’s 400m T13 athletics. 

On September 6, Xiomara Saldarriaga won bronze in women’s F38 discus throw with a distance of 38.36 meters, as well as Paula Ossa in the women’s road race C4-5 cycling final. 

Karen Palomeque won again on September 7, this time gold. With a time of 58.67, Palomeque came on top at the women’s 400m T38 athletics final. Mauricio Valencia also won again, scoring gold in the men’s shot put F34 final. 

Carlos Serrano secured his second silver in the men’s 50m butterfly S7 final, with a time of 29.08. Additionally, Colombia won three bronze medals on September 7, with Jhon Obando in men’s long jump T20, Fabio Torres in Men’s 97kg powerlifting, and Juan José Betancourt in the men’s road race T1-2 road cycling.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica was ranked 49th at the final medal table, with two gold medals earned by the same athlete during the last week of the Games. 

Sherman Guity first won gold in the men’s 100m T64 athletics final on September 4 with a time of 10.65. The athlete also scored gold at the men’s 200m T64 final on September 7, with a time of 21.32.

Cuba

Cuba concluded its ninth participation at a Paralympic Games ranked 24th at the final medal table with six gold, three silver and one bronze medal. 

The country’s third gold medal in Paris 2024 was won by Guillermo González in the men’s javelin throw F46 final on September 3. Later in the day, Omara Durand scored gold in the women’s 400m T12 athletics final, with a time of 53.49. Robiel Sol also won gold in the men’s long jump T47 athletics final. 

On September 4, Pablo Ramírez won the silver medal in men’s 54kg powerlifting, as did Sheyla Hernández on September 7 at the women’s +70kg judo final. 

Omara Durand won gold once again on September 5 at the women’s 100m T12 athletics final, with a time of 11.81. Ulicer Aguilera won bronze on the same day in men’s javelin throw F13, with a distance of 62.51 meters. 

Another gold was secured on September 6 by Yunier Fernández Izquierdo when he beat Great Britain’s Rob Davies 3-0 at the men’s singles Class 1 table tennis discipline. And on September 7, Omara Durand won gold for the third time during the final week at Paris 2024 in the women’s 200m T12 athletics discipline, with a time of 23.62.

Ecuador

Ecuador was ranked 47th at the final medal table with two gold and two bronze medals in Paris 2024. 

The country’s first gold medal was won on September 3 by Kiara Rodríguez at the women’s 100m T47 athletics final. Rodríguez beat the United States’ silver and New Zealand’s bronze with a time of 12.04. 

On September 4, Estefany López scored bronze in women’s F41 discus throw with a distance of 30.89, and on September 6, Kiara Rodríguez once again won gold, this time at the women’s long jump T47 final.

Mexico

Mexico was ranked 30th at the final medal table with three gold, six silver and eight bronze medals. 

The country’s first medal during the last week of Paris 2024 was won by Juan Pablo Cervantes, who scored gold at the men’s 100m T54 athletics final on September 4. Later in the day, José Castorena also won gold in men’s 50m breastroke SB2 swimming, with a time of 59.41. 

On September 5, Gilda Cota won silver in the women’s shot put F33 athletics final, with a distance of 7.89 meters. The following day, Edgar Ulises Fuentes also scored silver in the men’s javelin throw F54 category. 

Jesús Gutiérrez and Amalia Pérez both won bronze at men’s 400m freestyle S6 and Women’s 61kg powerlifting, respectively. Additionally, Ángel Camacho added another silver medal to Mexico’s collection on September 7 in the men’s 50m backstroke S4 swimming final. 

On the last day of the Games, José Castillo took home the bronze in the Men’s 107kg powerlifting discipline, lifting a total of 222kg.

Venezuela

With representation from 24 athletes across nine different disciplines, Venezuela was ranked 34th at the final medal table with three gold, two silver and one bronze. 

Venezuela kicked off the last week of the Games with Clara Fuentes’ gold at the women’s 50kg powerlifting final. Fuentes lifted 124kg, defeating athletes from China and Great Britain. On the same day, Marcos Blanco won the bronze in the men’s 60kg judo bronze medal contest, defeating Indonesia 10-0. 

On September 6, the country scored gold once again with representation from Naibys Daniela Morillo Gil at the women’s javelin throw F46 final, with a distance of 43.77 meters. 

Alejandra Pérez closed off Venezuela’s participation in the games with the silver at the women’s 200m T12 athletics final, on September 7.

Other countries

On September 6, Dominican athlete Darlenys de la Cruz Severino placed first in the women’s 100m T12 Round 1- Heat 2 competition with a time of 12.37, just above Brazilian Viviane Ferreira Soares’ 12.73. Similarly, de la Cruz Severino also placed third in the Women’s 100m T12 semi-final with a time of 12.40. 

El Salvador, which was represented by three athletes in Paris 2024, celebrated Herbert Aceituno’s fourth place at the men’s 59kg powerlifting final, which placed him just under Iran, China, and Egypt. Aceituno lifted 196kg. 

Guatemala’s Ericka Esteban came in seventh at the women’s 400m T48 Round 1- Heat 2 on September 6, and Uruguay’s Hanna Arias was sixth at the women’s 100m butterfly S9 swimming Heat 2. 

Panama also placed fifth at the men’s 72kg powerlifting final, with representation from Rey Melchor Dimas Vásquez, who lifted 200kg.