Britain’s Megan Richter arrived in Paris as one of the newcomers to the PTS4 women’s field, and she left with the 2024 Paralympic title after a superb run to the gold on Monday afternoon in the French capital.
Richter was dominant on the swim - her background as a Paralympic swimmer indeed helped - and then again on the run to beat Spain’s Marta Frances Gomez, who crossed the line with pure delight in second place. The bronze was won by a second Brit, former World Champion Hannah Moore, completing her return to the sport’s front line in this Paralympic cycle.
“I can’t believe it,” said Richter. “I am so proud and so grateful to everyone who helped me get here. I am still in absolute shock. I just stuck to my plan. I kind of knew what was going on in the race. I started panicking a bit on the bike, I didn’t know where I was but as I started to realise where the race was going, I started relaxing.”
With five PTS3 athletes classing up to join the PTS4, and no Kelly Elmlinger after the American pre-race favourite was forced out due to illness, the race with the biggest field of the day was wide open from the start of the 750m swim.
Starting with the current, it was Australian youngster Grace Brimelow setting the pace in the water, carving her way around the buoys successfully as the flow tried to keep taking the athletes downstream.
Hannah Moore was also going well, Mexico’s Kenia Yesenia Villalobos Vargas keeping in touch with those trying to keep the margin to the leaders to a minimum as they hit the first transition.
Spain’s Marta Frances Gomez soon set about hoovering up the gap as quickly as possible on the 20km bike, but it was Moore and Richter proving too hot to handle up ahead.
Elise Marc was holding her own in the middle of the field and giving the French plenty to cheer along with Camille Seneclauze as Moore hit the front and suddenly found 45 seconds of precious daylight behind her to her compatriot.
Richter was quicker in transition and had the momentum, while Frances was a further minute back at the start of the run before starting to reel in Moore.
By halfway through the 5km, Richter had a lead she would never relinquish, taking the tape by a full 40 seconds from the flying Marta Frances in second, Moore with third ahead of Seneclauze and Marc in fourth and fifth.
QUOTES:
Marta Francés Gómez (silver)
“It’s amazing. Running here in Paris… I feel like everyone led me to the finish line today. I’m just so happy I was able to compete here. Beforehand, I thought, ‘What would I feel if I would win a medal?’ During the run I just thought, ‘I need to run as fast as possible. I can do more. I can get a medal.’”
I’m thinking of my parents. I did it for them. I want to give them a big hug, but I don’t know where they are.”
Hannah Moore (bronze)
“It’s really crazy to be here. Honestly, I still can’t quite believe what happened. The crowds were incredible, not like anything I’ve ever experienced before, just too many people just screaming for you. To see so many people out to watch para sport on a Monday morning in Paris is crazy.”
“I enjoyed swimming in it (the Seine). It’s a course that really suited me. It is great to have more and more people in the sport and to have such a strong PTS4 (GBR) field here, with two men, two women. It shows how the sport is growing.”
