Paralympics 2021: Alexandre Léauté assured of a medal on the track, the para-swimmer David Smétanine final – Franceinfo

The second day of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Thursday August 26, began under good auspices for the Blues, thanks to the gold medal of the para-cyclist Alexandre Léauté in pursuit. David Smétanine, in para-swimming, also made it to the final in the 100m freestyle. Find out what not to miss this morning in Tokyo.

Para-cycling on track: Alexandre Léauté wins the Grail

The tricolor para-cycling shines in Tokyo. After Marie Patouillet’s bronze on Wednesday, Alexandre Léauté offered his first gold medal to the French delegation. Second in qualifying for the C2 pursuit, the Frenchman had to face the Belgian Ewoud Vromant, who beat him in the last world championships, but the latter was ultimately disqualified. During qualifying, the two men, the French then the Belgian, broke the world record for the discipline. After the disqualification of Ewoud Vromant, Alexandre Léauté therefore inherited the Australian Hicks as opponent in the final. Without trembling, he outclassed him by beating the world record (3’31”478)!

Para-swimming: David Smétanine at the rendezvous of the final, Anastasia Pagonis makes history at 17

For his fifth Paralympic Games, David Smétanine qualified for the first of three finals in his sights. The nine-time Paralympic medalist, including a title in Beijing in 2008, will compete in the 100m freestyle final. Author of the 7th time in the series, he will have to raise his voice to aim for a new Olympic podium, at 10:14 am.

Sensation of the night in Tokyo, Anastasia Pagonis became the first woman under 5 minutes in the 400m freestyle S11. At 17, and in the playoffs, the American erased the world record of the Dutch Liesette Bruinsma (5’02 “19), which she will find in the final.

Wheelchair fencing: Yohan Peters joined the 8th, Romain Noble stops there

Yohan Peter qualified for the round of 16 of the épée tournament, thanks to his two victories in six matches during the qualifications. At 6:40 am he will face the Ukrainian Anton Datsko, also the author of two victories, before eventually finding the Briton and favorite Dimitri Coutya in the quarterfinals.

In wheelchair fencing, it goes for Yohan Peter who qualifies for the 8th finals of individual épée in category B.

On the other hand, Romain Noble is eliminated at the end of the qualifying phase in category A.#GoLesBleus | # Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/pcApLEf1Z6

– France Team (@EquipeFRA) August 26, 2021

Romain Noble has avoided the zero point but will not see the 8th. After five saber defeats on Wednesday, the Habs lost four times in the épée during qualifying. His only success, against the Pole Dariusz Pender, did not allow him to move on to the next round.

Para-table tennis: Stéphane Molliens, Fabien Lamirault and MaximeThomas qualified

The French received two out of two in class 2! Reigning Paralympic champion of the category, Fabien Lamirault qualified for the quarterfinals of the Tokyo tournament. After dominating Pole Tomasz Jakimczuk on Wednesday, he beat Czech Jiri Suchanek to reach the next round, benefiting from a direct ticket to the quarterfinals on Friday. He will be accompanied by Stéphane Molliens, who will go through the round of 16 after his victory over Ukrainian Oleksandr Yezyk.

In para table tennis class 2, @FabienLamirault qualifies for the quarter-finals thanks to his 3-1 victory over Czech Jiri Suchanek.#GoLesBleus # Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/gtAXXeAG8L

– France Team (@EquipeFRA) August 26, 2021

In class 4, Maxime Thomas also secured a place for the quarterfinals, after his victory over Nigerian Isau Ogunkunle.

Wheelchair rugby: the United States wins a shock against Canada

The group stage of wheelchair rugby offered us a classic of this discipline, a clash between Canada and the United States. Second in Rio behind the Australians, still favorites in Tokyo, the Americans want to recover a title that has eluded them since 2008. In Brazil, Canada missed the Olympic podium for the first time since 2000.

Rough, like the name “murderball” sometimes used by North Americans to designate this sport, and tight until the last quarter, this meeting finally saw the victory of the United States (58-54). Beaten by Japan on Wednesday, the Blues will still have a lot to do this Thursday against the Australians (10:30 am).