Day 8 Wrap - Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
The third last day of competition at the Paris La Defense Arena had three Kiwis racing, with Christchurch teenagers Lili-Fox Mason (Wharenui) and Gaby Smith (Vikings) in the same event, as well as Tupou Neiufi (Pukekohe) returning to the pool for the final event on her programme.
Lili-Fox Mason was the first on the blocks, taking on the first heat of the Women’s 400m Freestyle S10. Mason got off to a strong start, turning in fourth place after the first 100m. Mason maintained a high stroke rate, working hard to stick with the mid-pack by the halfway mark. Third to sixth place nearly turned together at the 200m, before the field started to spread out over the second half of the race. Alexandra Truwit (USA – 4:34.71) dominated from the outset, looking very comfortable on the big stage at her first major international competition. World Record holder and reigning Paralympic Champion Aurelie Rivard (Canada – 4:37.03) looked effortless throughout the heat swim to touch second, with Taylor Winnett (USA – 4:52.58) winning the battle of the mid-pack to be third on the wall. Mason (5:00.42) finished sixth in her heat, achieving the third fastest time of her career and her best time at a major international championship over the distance.
Gaby Smith was in the following heat of the longest event on the programme. Smith had a good dive before getting into her work, finding herself in a heat where her competitors were keen to set the pace from the get-go. Smith held her position consistently in sixth place throughout, going alongside Maria Paula Barrera Zapata (Columbia – 5:00.09) over the opening two laps. Smith (5:02.31) rounded out race in sixth place.
Mason got the bragging rights between the New Zealand pair in this event, placing 11th overall with Smith one spot behind in 12th.
This event rounded out Mason’s debut Paralympic Games, with the 19-year-old swimming two strong performances to earn an 11th and 13th placing finishes on the world's biggest stage. Congratulations to Lili-Fox Mason, her coach Matt Houston and her support team for a strong showing at her first Paralympics.
Smith will return to the pool on the final day of competition to battle the Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10. Congratulations to Smith, her coach Todd Mason and support team for her performance in her second event in Paris.
Tupou Neiufi was back for the sprint event, taking on the Women’s 50m Freestyle S8 from lane two of the first heat. Neiufi had a good dive which positioned her well as the swimmers got into their stroke. She stayed alongside the centre lanes as they moved through the opening 20m, before World Record holder Alice Tai (Great Britain – 30.52) powered away in the middle of the pool. Teammates Shengnan Jiang (China – 31.52) and Hui Zhu (China – 31.66) didn’t have much separating them for second and third on the wall. Neiufi was beaten to the touch by Mallory Weggemann (USA – 32.97) and Husnah Kukundakwe (Uganda – 33.12), who broke the African Record. Neiufi (33.40) rounded out her Paris campaign by finishing sixth in her heat to place tenth overall.
Congratulations to Tupou Neiufi, her coach Sheldon Kemp and her support team for representing her country proudly at her third Paralympic Games.
The penultimate day of competition will see Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) as the sole Kiwi in the competition pool, with the former World Record holder taking on the Men's 50m Freestyle S4.
Heats will be held each NZ evening from 7.30pm NZST and finals from 3.30am NZST the following morning.
Make sure you are following Swimming NZ on our social media channels to stay up-to-date with the latest action from Paris.
You can watch the coverage on TVNZ, who are providing the most extensive coverage in New Zealand history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Check out our preview of our Kiwis in action each day below.
Daily Previews
*start times are subject to change, and finals are subject to athlete progression.
Day Nine
Heats (from 7.30pm NZST – Friday 6 September)
Men’s 50m Freestyle S4 (Leslie)
Potential Finals Swims (from 3.30am NZST – Saturday 7 September)
Men’s 50m Freestyle S4 (Leslie* – 5.36am)
Cameron Leslie is the only Kiwi racing on day nine in Paris, taking on the men’s 50m freestyle S4. As the silver medallist in this event at the past two Para Swimming World Championships, the former world record holder will be looking to produce his best at the Paris La Defense Arena where he enters as the third fastest seed.
Day Ten
Heats (from 7.30pm NZST – Saturday 7 September)
Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10 (Smith)
Men’s 50m Backstroke S4 (Leslie)
Potential Finals Swims (from 3.30am NZST – Sunday 8 September)
Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10 (Smith* – 3.37am)
Men’s 50m Backstroke S4 (Leslie* – 4.54am)
Gaby Smith will round out her debut Paralympic Games on the final day of competition, taking on her third event — the women’s 200m individual medley SM10. She is seeded as the 12th fastest coming into the Games.
Cameron Leslie has his best event on the final day, where he will take on the men’s 50m backstroke S4. Coming into the event as the reigning World Champion, Leslie has the third fastest entry time.
Swimmer Entries
Cameron Leslie
Men’s 50m Freestyle S4 (Entry time: 37.22)
Men’s 100m Freestyle S4 - Seventh (1:24.03)
Men’s 200m Freestyle S4 - Eighth (3:06.84)
Men’s 50m Backstroke S4 (Entry time: 42.64)
Lili-Fox Mason
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 - Eleventh (5:00.42)
Women’s 100m Butterfly S10 - Thirteenth (1:12.44)
Tupou Neiufi
Women’s 50m Freestyle S8 - Tenth (33.40)
Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 - Ninth (1:23.49)
Jesse Reynolds
Men’s 100m Backstroke S9 - Seventh (1:04.89)
Gaby Smith
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 - Twelfth (5:02.31)
Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB9 - Seventh (1:20.72)
Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10 (Entry time: 2:39.68)
Josh Willmer
Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8 - Ninth (1:12.73 - SB8 NZ Record)
New Zealand Swimming Team
Name | Club/Organisation | Role |
Cameron Leslie | Whangārei | Swimmer |
Lili-Fox Mason | Wharenui | Swimmer |
Tupou Neiufi | Pukekohe | Swimmer |
Jesse Reynolds | Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato | Swimmer |
Gaby Smith | Vikings | Swimmer |
Josh Willmer | Pukekohe | Swimmer |
Simon Mayne | Swimming NZ | Head Coach |
Tom Onley | Whangārei | Coach |
Amanda White | Swimming NZ | Team Manager & Chaperone |
Graeme White | Support Staff |
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