Golden 30 minutes takes China to swimming Paralympics swimming domination / Photo: © AFP/File
Golden 30 minutes takes China to swimming Paralympics swimming domination
China ended its Paris Paralympics swimming programme with more emphatic success on Saturday, including Jiang Yuyan collecting a remarkable seventh gold of the Paris Games.
She was one of three Chinese swimmers who secured golds in the space of 30 minutes at a packed La Defense Arena to ensure the Chinese finished top of the sport's medal table for a fourth straight Games.
They then collected a further six medals, including a sweep of the podium in the women's 200m individual medley SM5.
The highlight of the golden half an hour was teenager Jiang's display in the women's 100m backstroke S6 as she set a world record to pip America's defending champion Jessica Long.
"It's really incredible for me," said 19-year-old Jiang, who lost an arm and a leg when she was involved in a car accident aged four.
"I just finish each small goal, then have a rest and start again. I don't overthink it, I just do it.
"The world record is a new challenge for me in the future.
"From now on, my competitor is myself," she added.
China stayed ahead of Britain by four golds in the swimming standings, with the sport counting for almost a quarter of all of their medals in Paris over the past 10 days.
Italy also finished in the French capital strongly, climaxing with a superb win in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.
The packed crowd had reserved their loudest cheers for that race as they welcomed the French team poolside.
American double leg amputee Jessica Long clinched her 18th gold medal, and 31st overall since her Athens debut in 2004, as she eased to the 100m butterfly S8.
"When I finished the wall, I looked all around and I was like, oh my god, I won!" the 32-year-old told AFP.
"But this is really sweet," she added before confirming the Los Angeles Games in 2028 will be her swansong.
V.Bennett--TNT
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