Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei tragically passed away after being set on fire by her partner, sparking a somber moment of remembrance at the 2024 Paralympic Games closing ceremony in Paris. The ceremony featured dazzling light shows and French electronic music performances, culminating in two world records being broken in the marathon and para powerlifting events. Moroccan athlete Fatima Ezzahra El Idrissi shattered the world record for visually impaired runners with a time of 2 hours, 48 minutes, 36 seconds in the marathon, while Nigerian athlete Folashade Oluwafemiayo set a new world record in women’s para powerlifting by lifting 167 kilograms above her chest.
Following the sporting achievements, spectators paid tribute to Rebecca Cheptegei by observing a minute of applause in her memory. Cheptegei had competed in the marathon at the Paris Olympics last month and tragically lost her life in a domestic violence incident. The announcer at the ceremony referred to her as a “victim of femicide.” In terms of overall performance, China dominated the Paralympic Games by winning 94 gold medals, nearly twice as many as Britain’s 49. China finished with a total of 220 medals, establishing their supremacy in the competition. Host nation France secured a respectable eighth place in the medal table, earning 19 gold medals out of their total of 75. The 2024 Paralympic Games concluded with a poignant tribute to a fallen athlete and a celebration of remarkable athletic achievements.
Source
Photo credit www.euronews.com
