Day 2 Wrap - Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Our Paralympic Games got off to a strong start on day two of the swimming competition at the Paris La Defense Arena, with Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) and Gaby Smith (Vikings) both reaching their respective finals, and Josh Willmer (Pukekohe) breaking his own SB8 NZ Record.
Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) kick started his busy Paralympic Games schedule on day two. Competing at his fourth Games and being a flag bearer for New Zealand at the opening ceremony, Leslie cruised through the heats to touch third in his heat and qualify sixth fastest for the final (1:24.22).
Leslie got off to a great start from lane seven in the final, with a fast tempo moving him into third at halfway behind Angel de Jesus Camacho Ramirez (Mexico) and the World Record holder Ami Omer Dadaon (Israel) who set a cracking pace. The strong field closed the gap over the second 50m, pulling up alongside Leslie with 25m left to swim. Dadaon (1:20.25) couldn’t maintain his rapid pace from the first lap, however still managed to pull ahead to claim the gold medal. Reigning Paralympic Champion Takayuki Suzuki (Japan – 1:21.71) moved into the silver medal position in the closing stages with Camacho Ramirez (1:22.32) holding on for bronze with an Americas Record. Leslie (1:24.03) went faster than his heat swim to finish seventh overall amongst a strong field.
Upon reflection, Leslie was disappointed with how the final played out but will take some positives into his other events.
"Definitely disappointed with myself after that one. Went out too hard and didn't see the race plan changes from this morning translate into a better time. It is nice to get my campaign underway and I have seen some positive signs from today's races for other races of mine which are probably more my strengths."
Leslie loved the opportunity to race in front of his family.
"Really emotional having the family here - just special! Emma has been sharing with me how they've been reacting and they are loving the environment which is cool. It really speaks to one of my whys. I'm looking forward to spending the day with them tomorrow, hitting reset, and getting back into race mode."
Congratulations to Leslie, coach Tom Onley and his support team on his seventh place in the world. We look forward to watching him in his next event, the Men’s 200m Freestyle S4, which will be underway on Tuesday night.
Gaby Smith made an impressive Paralympic debut by qualifying for the final in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB9. She touched fourth in her heat to qualify seventh fastest for the final, having produced the third best time of her career (1:20.40).
In the final, the leaders set off strongly with Smith in lane one just behind. She turned in seventh position, before finishing strongly to take seventh place (1:20.72). The performance marked the fourth best time of her career and was just outside the time from her heat. World Record holder Chantalle Zijderveld (Netherlands - 1:13.74) took the gold medal, ahead of Meng Zhang (China - 1:15.05) in silver and Lisa Kruger (Netherlands - 1:17.14) for bronze.
Smith was proud to reach the final on her first appearance at the Games.
"I'm proud to be here on the world stage with these amazing athletes, competing alongside them and getting in the final today. My race execution wasn't spot on tonight and the result showed that."
Smith enjoyed her first experience and will take those learnings into her next race in Paris.
"It was hard to prepare for something of this scale, the crowds are insane. It's my first race and my first Games, I'll take the learnings of today for my next races this week and for future Championships and Games."
Congratulations to Smith, her coach Todd Mason and support team on making the final on Paralympic debut. Smith will be back in action on Thursday evening in the Women's 400m Freestyle S10.
Josh Willmer made his Paralympic debut in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8 with a career best time. He found himself in a competitive field, racing in the first heat of two. Making a good start, Willmer was right with the leaders in third at the turn before pulling up alongside with 25m left to swim. The margin was close across the middle of the pool, with the top six in the heat finishing within one second of each other. Willmer (1:12.73) produced a SB8 NZ Record to touch fifth, finishing ninth overall to just miss out on the final.
Getting off to a blistering start, Willmer also broke the Men's 50m Breaststroke SB8 NZ Record in his opening split of the race (33.82).
Speaking with TVNZ immediately after his race, Willmer felt he executed upon debut.
“The race was pretty good, I stuck to my race plan. I’m a little bit gutted, was really hoping to make a final.”
In the lead-up to the Games, Willmer has thrived on the family environment the swim team provides.
“The swim team is like a second family to me. I love being around them, I love the support they give and I’m really thankful to be here.”
Congratulations to Willmer, coach Sheldon Kemp and his support team on his personal best performance in his sole event in Paris.
Today's action demonstrates that the future looks bright. Leslie has been thrilled to see how Willmer and Smith have performed on debut in Paris.
"It's been awesome seeing our rookies kick off their Paralympic campaigns. Joshy is a weapon and one to watch in the future - he's got a desire to win which is awesome to see in a young athlete. Gaby was awesome too! She's still so young and as a lot of potential so it's great to see how she has improved and been comfortable to progress from heat to final."
We only have one swimmer in action on day three, with Tupou Neiufi (Pukekohe) making her first appearance of the Games. The reigning Paralympic Champion in the Women's 100m Backstroke S8, Neiufi will be looking to defend her title on day three. Neiufi has the fifth fastest entry time, having won bronze at this event at the Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester last year.
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 Three
Heats (from 7.30pm NZST – Saturday 31 August)
Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 (Neiufi)
Potential Finals Swims (from 3.30am NZST – Sunday 1 September)
Women’s 100m Backstroke S8 (Neiufi* – 4.06am)
Tupou Neiufi will make her first appearance at her third Games. The reigning Paralympic Champion in this event, Neiufi will be looking to defend her title. Neiufi has the fifth fastest entry time, having won bronze at this event at the Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester last year.
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 (Entry time: 1:20.35)
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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