Day two of the Paris 2024 Paralympics brought glory to Brazil, with the athletes shining in the athletics event. Júlio Cesar Agripino grabbed the spotlight by clinching gold and setting a new world record in the T11 class 5,000 meters for visually impaired athletes.
Agripino clocked a stunning 14:48.85, smashing the previous record held by fellow Brazilian Yeltsin Jacques.
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The race was a tight contest, with Japan’s Kenya Karasawa securing the silver with a finish of 14:51.48, just a notch above Jacques, who took bronze in 14:52.61. This victory not only brought Agripino the gold but also broke the Olympic record that had stood since Athens 2004.
RECORDE MUNDIAL NOS 5000m T11! 🥇🌎🏃🏾♂️
Julio Cesar Agripino é o mais novo dono do melhor tempo do mundo nos 5000m, da classe T11.
O atleta não só garantiu sua primeira medalha paralímpica, mas também colocou seu nome na história! Ele fechou a prova com o tempo de 14min48s85,… pic.twitter.com/IhzA7x8rDn
— Comitê Paralímpico Brasileiro (@BraParalimpico) August 30, 2024
Speaking of his win, Agripino shared a heartfelt message about his journey from training in modest settings to becoming a Paralympic champion. He dedicated his victory to his grandfather and discussed overcoming personal challenges, including his battle with keratoconus, a vision-degrading disease diagnosed at age seven.
On the other hand, Jacques, despite facing recent setbacks including an injury and a virus, displayed resilience. “You either eat the sour lemon or make lemonade,” he said, reflecting a sense of achievement despite the challenges.
The day prior, another Brazilian, Gabriel Araújo, known affectionately as Gabrielzinho, lived up to his favorite status by winning gold in the 100-meter backstroke S2 class, marking a strong start for Brazil with two golds early in the games.
