11 iconic photos from the Paralympic Paratriathlon events

Paris, 2 September 2024.

Eleven races, 33 medallists, a catalogue of incredible stories.

It was always going to be an unforgettable day, but it also proved a brilliant day to be British.

So here we celebrate the  greatest day in Paralympic paratri history with 11 striking images.

Paralympics GB star Megan Richter was in disbelief after taking the tape for gold in the PTS4 class, the final event of 11 sprint-distance contests on the busiest day in paratriathlon history. 

Team-mate Hannah Moore claimed bronze.

Dave Ellis and guide Luke Pollard show their elation at winning the first of two golds, and five medals in total, on a triumphant day for Paralympics GB.

It finally laid to rest the ghosts of Tokyo where the favourites suffered a race-ending mechanical at the start of the bike leg.

The aero helmet displays the patriotism and helps GB’s Lauren Steadman to the fastest PTS5 bike leg on the way to paratri bronze.

Despite being unable to defend her title, Steadman said that after three years of psychological challenges and concerns over whether she’d even be on the start-line, the bronze meant more than gold in Japan.

There was no stopping the dominant Jetze Plat in the wheelchair division as the Dutchman claimed his third consecutive paratri gold.

Seen here exiting the 750m swim in 10:19mins, Plat would go on to defend both his handcycle time-trial and road race titles from Tokyo.

It was a fourth place to be celebrated for Alison Peasgood and guide Brooke Gillies.  

Peasgood only qualified at the start of the year after returning from mat leave.

“It’s been a rollercoaster,” she said. 

Logan had just turned one and was out on the course with the family and his tambourine. 

“Although he’s probably asleep somewhere by now,” Peasgood added.

USA’s Melissa Stockwell couldn’t make it a podium sweep in the women’s PTS2 division.

But it wasn’t going to stop the military veteran from soaking up the atmosphere created by fans who lined the Parisian streets from the early hours. 

Teammates Hailey Danz and Alyssa Seely kept up the US’s proud domination of this class with gold and bronze.

Spain’s Susana Rodriguez and guide Sara Perez Sala make light work of the cobbles on the way to victory in the women’s IPTVI class. 

Despite the best efforts of young Italian Francesca Tarantello, the duo were never challenged.

Rodriguez defended her title from Tokyo by more than 2mins.

 Despite winning a 10th Paralympic medal and second in paratri, PTS5 silver medal winner Claire Cashmore shed more tears of relief for partner Dave Ellis than she did of joy for herself.

At her sixth Paralympic Games, Cashmore, 36, was one step higher up the podium than in Tokyo.

She vowed to continue to Los Angeles in pursuit of gold.

The day’s biggest cheers were saved for Olympic torch bearer, Paralympic flag bearer and home favourite Alexis Hanquinquant. 

Despite producing the fastest race of the day in any category, the PTS4 winner saved enough energy for this victory leap at the finish. 

The Frenchman’s ecstasy contrasts with the disappointment of Stefan Daniel in the background. 

The two-time Canadian medalist had been leading the PTS5 category until a bike crash ended his chances. But he carried on to complete the event.

The remarkable Hwang Tae Kim became the first South Korean athlete in history to compete in the Paralympic paratri. He finished 10th in the PTS3 class.

The former taekwondo player and  skier, who has run more than 70 marathons, lost both arms in a high-voltage accident while working on an electrical installation in 2000.

Grace Norman raises the Stars & Stripes on the blue carpet of the Pont Alexandre III with the backdrop of the famous Les Invalides. 

Victory in the PTS5 class ahead of Cashmore and Steadman ensured Norman regained her title from 2016.

She helped the USA top the paratri medal table for the third successive Paralympics with three golds, three silvers and two bronzes.