Day 3 Wrap - Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Day three of the swimming saw only one New Zealand swimmer in action at the Paris La Defense Arena.
Reigning Paralympic Champion, Tupou Neiufi (Pukekohe) made her first appearance in Paris at her third Paralympic Games. Racing in the women's 100m backstroke S8, Neiufi was in the second heat of two in lane three. Neiufi looked strong and was well positioned through the opening lap, turning third at the halfway point (39.68 split).
World Record holder Alice Tai (Great Britain - 1:14.26) streaked away from the field in the heat to qualify as the clear favourite for the final, finishing the heat more than six seconds ahead of second. Jessica Long (United States of America - 1:20.83) demonstrated her strong finishing skills to move through the field during the second lap to be second on the wall. Xenia Francesca Palazzo (Italy - 1:20.91) was pipped at the touch to place third in the heat.
During the second lap, Neiufi was in a battle to get her hand on the wall in the mid-pack as she looked to secure a spot in the final. Weiyuan Lu (China - 1:22.89) beat Neiufi to the wall for fourth, with Neiufi touching fifth in the heat (1:23.49).
As the heat results combined, Neiufi found herself placed ninth overall to narrowly miss a spot in the final, with the late surge from Lu proving the difference between returning for the evening's race.
Nonetheless, it is a great achievement to place ninth while competing against the best in the world at a third Paralympic Games. Congratulations to Neiufi, her coach Sheldon Kemp and her wider support team.
Neiufi will be back for her other event at these Paris Games, the women's 50m freestyle S8, on Thursday evening.
We don't have any Kiwis in action over the next couple of days, with Tuesday (day six) the next time our swimmers take to the competition pool.
Jesse Reynolds (Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato) will be first up, competing at his third Paralympic Games, followed by Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) returning to the pool for his second event of Paris 2024. Lili-Fox Mason (Wharenui) will make her Paralympic debut on day six, taking on the women’s 100m butterfly S10.
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 Six
Heats (from 7.30pm NZST – Tuesday 3 September)
Men’s 100m Backstroke S9 (Reynolds)
Men’s 200m Freestyle S4 (Leslie)
Women’s 100m Butterfly S10 (Mason)
Potential Finals Swims (from 3.30am NZST – Wednesday 4 September)
Men’s 100m Backstroke S9 (Reynolds* – 3.37am)
Men’s 200m Freestyle S4 (Leslie* – 3.51am)
Women’s 100m Butterfly S10 (Mason* – 6.28am)
Jesse Reynolds leads off the sixth day of competition with his only event in Paris. Competing at his third Paralympic Games, Reynolds will be using his international experience to perform at his best in the men’s 100m backstroke S9. Reynolds has the eighth fastest seed time on the entry list.
Cameron Leslie will return to the competition pool for the longest event of his programme, the men’s 200m freestyle S4. As the reigning World Championships bronze medallist from Manchester last year in this event, Leslie will be hoping to better his entry time as the seventh fastest seed arriving in Paris.
Lili-Fox Mason will make her Paralympic debut in the women’s 100m butterfly S10. Mason will be hoping to emulate her local hero, Dame Sophie Pascoe, in performing on the biggest of stages in Paris. Mason enters as the 13th fastest.
Day Eight
Heats (from 7.30pm NZST – Thursday 5 September)
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 (Mason & Smith)
Women’s 50m Freestyle S8 (Neiufi)
Potential Finals Swims (from 3.30am NZST – Friday 6 September)
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 (Mason* & Smith* – 3.50am)
Women’s 50m Freestyle S8 (Neiufi* – 5.50am)
Christchurch girls Lili-Fox Mason and Gaby Smith will both be suiting up for the women’s 400m freestyle S10, the only event where New Zealand has more than one swimmer. Smith and Mason enter the event as the 11th and 12th fastest respectively.
Tupou Neiufi is the other Kiwi in action on day eight, taking on the women’s 50m freestyle S8. Coming in as the tenth fastest, Neiufi will be looking to produce strong performance to progress through to the final.
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 (Entry time: 3:02.86)
Men’s 50m Backstroke S4 (Entry time: 42.64)
Lili-Fox Mason
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 (Entry time: 4:59.47)
Women’s 100m Butterfly S10 (Entry time: 1:12.40)
Tupou Neiufi
Women’s 50m Freestyle S8 (Entry time: 32.77)
Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 - Ninth (1:23.49)
Jesse Reynolds
Men’s 100m Backstroke S9 (Entry time: 1:04.85)
Gaby Smith
Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 (Entry time: 4:56.54)
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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