2004 Paralympics - Athens Sep. 17 - 28

[BOREALIS]

Saturday 18 September - Daily Summary: 1

Day one of the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games

First competition day of the 12th Paralympic Games and curtain was raised for 8 sports in 8 Competition Venues around Athens. The day had a lot of excitement, as the first Finals took place in Judo, Cycling Track, Wheelchair Fencing and Shooting.

Three world and one Paralympic record were broken today during the opening day of the Cycling Track competition at the Athens Olympic Velodrome. British Aileen Mc GLYNN (B3) and pilot Helen HUNTER were triumphantly named Paralympic Champions capturing the first gold in the Athens Paralympic Games, in the women's B 1-3 Tandem 1Km Time Trial with a new world and Paralympic record of 1:11:160. The silver went to the USA's Karissa WHITSELL (B3) and pilot Katie COMPTON, who finished in 1:11:221, and the bronze to Australia with Lindy HOU (B2) and pilot Janelle LINDSDAY in a time of 1:11:784.

On the first day of the Paralympic Shooting Competition in the Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre, Germany seized two medals in the first event and China won the gold in the second event. Manuela SCHMERMUND (GER) made history as the first gold medallist of the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games.

In Judo, the twenty-nine-year-old Japanese athlete Satoshi FUJIMOTO made Paralympic history as the second Paralympic judoka to win three consecutive gold medals after Simon JACKSON (GBR) (Atlanta, Barcelona and Seoul). Moreover, female judoka Susann SCHUETZEL (GER) became the first gold medallist in the Women’s –52 kg category on the first day of the Paralympic Judo Tournament.

Today was also the first day for Table Tennis. Matti LAUNONEN (FIN) is considered to be a living legend in the Table Tennis Event. This is the fifth Paralympic Games he is taking part in. His goal is to once again win a gold medal in the Men’s Individual, Class 1 and Men’s Team, Classes 1/2 events.

Brazil, Argentina and Spain were victorious in the first day matches of the Football 5-a-side Tournament of the 2004 Paralympic Games, establishing a Latin domination.

In Wheelchair Fencing the Finals took place in the Women’s Individual Epee, categories Α and Β and in the Men’s Individual Foil, categories A and B. JANA Saysunee (THA) and YU Chui Yee (HKG) won the gold medals accordingly in Women’s finals, while FUNG Ying Ki (HKG) and HUI Charn Hung (HKG) were the gold medallists in Men’s categories.

http://www.athens2004.com/en/ParalympicResults/paralympics/results/pastday?day=1