Brazil wins two gold medals in paratriathlon and parabadminton in international competitions

Brazilian Paralympic sport celebrated two gold medals this Saturday (5). In the Alhandra (Portugal) stage of the paratriathlon World Cup, Erica Rodrigues won the women's race in the PTS5 class (athletes with mild physical-motor disabilities who compete standing up). At the Chinese International Parabadminton Tournament, Vitor Tavares was the champion of the SH6 class (short stature).

In the Paralympic triathlon, the events consist of 750 meters (m) of swimming, 20 kilometers (km) of cycling – conventional bicycles, tandems (pedaling in pairs, in the case of visually impaired athletes who require a guide) or handbikes (adapted vehicle with three wheels, guided with hands, for wheelchair users) – and 5 km of running (on foot or in a wheelchair) can be used.

Erica finished this Saturday's race in 1h07min31s, more than three minutes ahead of Spanish Maria Fuentes Artigot, second placed. Portuguese Ana Duarte completed the podium.

Brazil also reached the podium in two other events. In the men's PTS5 competition, Ruiter Silva from Goiás took silver, with a time of 59min07s, 31 seconds behind Portuguese Filipe Marques, who took gold.

The Greek Panagiotis Alevizos was bronze. In the PTWC class (wheelchair users), Lucas Rodrigues from São Paulo secured third place, behind Tunisian Fathu Zwoukhi (first) and Frenchman Julien Viot (second).

In parabadminton, Vitor won the singles title in his class against Chinese Lin Naili. Even in his opponent's country, the Brazilian, who has dwarfism, showed why he was a Paralympic bronze medalist at the Games in Paris (France), in 2024. He won by 2 sets to 1, with splits of 19/21, 21/18 and 21/16.

This was the second Brazilian podium in the China Tournament. Last Friday (4), Kauana Beckenkamp secured bronze in the individual competition in the SL3 class (athletes with moderate disabilities and limited balance in the lower limbs, but who compete standing up). She was beaten in the semifinals by the Chinese Faifei Gu, by 2 sets to 0 (21/12 and 23/21).

It is worth remembering that Brazil was announced, in July, as the host of the Parabadminton World Championship, in 2028. The competition will be at the Paralympic Training Center, in São Paulo, between February 14th and 20th, around six months before the Paralympics in Los Angeles (United States).

Another medal won on Friday came at the Road Paracycling World Championships, in Huntsville (United States). Jéssica Messali from São Paulo won bronze in the time trial among athletes in the WH3 class (handbikes), completing the 14.6 km course in 24min32s33. The top of the podium was occupied by Australian Lauren Parker (23min03.62), followed by Frenchwoman Anais Vincent (23min36.99).