Discus, swimming and archery: a golden day for Italy at the Paralympics

Yet another day full of medals for Italy, the eighth of the Paralympic Games Paris 2024: from Athletics to swimming and archery, there were many satisfactions for the Italian team, which increased its medal count with podiums in fencing - with Bebe Vio Grandis who, after yesterday's bronze medal in the individual competition, dragged the team foil to bronze - and of the para-cycling with, above all, the tenth Paralympic medal in the career of the Italian flag-bearer Luca Mazzone.

L'azzurro Oney Tapia, 48enne di origine cubana in Italia dal 2002, ha vinto la gara del lancio del disco F11 (atleti con difficoltà visive o non vedenti) della Paralimpiade di Parigi, con la misura di 41.92, 05 settembre 2024. (Ansa / Cip - Eva Pavia)

Oney Tapia won a gold medal in the discus throw F11. The 48-year-old of the Fiamme Azzurre triumphed with a measure of 41.92. Silver went to Iran's Hassan Bajoulvand (41.75), bronze to Spain's Alvaro del Amo Cano (39.60). For the Italian this is the fourth Paralympic medal, the first gold, after the two bronzes in Tokyo and the silver in Rio.

Ciclismo su strada - Gara su strada maschile H1-2 - Luca Mazzone festeggia sul podio la medaglia di Bronzo. (REUTERS/Maria Abranches)

Luca Mazzone achieved an encore and won the bronze medal in the H1-2 cycling road race. The 53-year-old from Puglia, who yesterday won silver in the time trial, finished in 1:27:58 behind France's Florian Jouanny, gold, and Spain's Sergio Garrote Munoz, silver. For the Italian flag-bearer, this is the tenth Paralympic medal in his career. "There is always a first time: this is the first time for me a bronze medal at the Paralympics. I had never won it in the six editions I participated in. I also medalled today and it is a small record, because all the times I have competed I have been on the podium. I am really satisfied.

Ciclismo su strada - Corsa su strada femminile H5 - Ana Maria Vitelaru. (REUTERS/Maria Abranches)

In the women's H5, Ana Maria Vitelaru - who races on the handbike that Alex Zanardi gave her - was third with a time of 1:52:27. Gold to the American Oksana Masters (1:52:14), silver to China's Bianbian Sun (1:52:25). The afternoon had opened with the bronze medal of Mirko Testa in the H3 cycling road race.

L'azzurro Mirko Testa ha conquistato la medaglia d'oro nella gara di paraciclismo su strada H3 ai Giochi Paralimpici di Parigi 2024. (ANSA / CIP - Luca Pagliaricci)

The first medal from swimming bears the signature of Antonio Fantin in the 100 freestyle S6. "I am very happy to have won again, it is never easy, especially because three years have passed between Tokyo and Paris and everything has changed as far as I am concerned. It's a pity I didn't also set the world record, but the important thing is to ring the anthem for the twelfth time in this pool, and hopefully that will be a good omen."