Brazil made a grand debut on the first day of athletics at the Paris Paralympics with a double on the podium at the Stade de France. São Paulo native Júlio César Agripino, born in Diadema, won the gold medal, setting a world and Paralympic record, by completing the 5,000-meter T11 (visually impaired) race in 14min48s85, three seconds ahead of Japan’s Kenya Karasawa (14min51s48), who took silver. Yeltsin Jacques from Mato Grosso do Sul took the bronze, finishing third (14min52s61).
Júlio Agripino breaks world record, wins gold and Brazil takes double in athletics at the Paris Games! 🇧🇷🥇🥉
Check out how the achievement went: https://t.co/DIWEjnm5Dd pic.twitter.com/ooiIzNbo9T
— Brazilian Paralympic Committee (@BraParalimpico) August 30, 2024
“I am very happy, it is very emotional to be Paralympic champion and break the world record. It shows the strength of the outskirts. When I started training, I only had a small field. But with a lot of strength and determination, I managed to win. There are always ups and downs in life, but now I am Paralympic champion. I also dedicate this medal to my grandfather,” said Agripino, 33, who was emotional after winning the first gold medal in his Paralympic Games career, in a statement to the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB).
In May, Júlio César, 33, had already stood out with silver in the same 5,000m event at the World Championships in Kobe (Japan), won by his compatriot Yeltsin. At the age of seven, the São Paulo native from Diadema was diagnosed with keratoconus, a degenerative disease of the cornea.
“I’ve always had trouble controlling my mind and concentrating. I would arrive in good shape, but I would fail to concentrate. I spoke to my psychologist yesterday and said I was a little nervous, but today I woke up and thought, I’m going to win. She said I would react well and that’s what happened,” celebrated Júlio César.
The arrival of gold! 🥇🇧🇷
Great race by our athlete Julio Cesar Agripino to secure the medal and the world record in the 5000m T11. #ParalympicBrazil #ParalympicGames #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/2w1ZELzEPo
— Brazilian Paralympic Committee (@BraParalimpico) August 30, 2024
Having recovered from an injury, Yeltsin Jacques from Mato Grosso do Sul, champion of the 5,000m at the Tokyo Games, also celebrated his bronze medal.
“I’m very happy for Júlio. I had an injury and caught a virus, which ended up hampering my preparation a bit. But as my wife said, you either eat the sour lemon or make lemonade. I feel like I’ve accomplished my mission,” said Yeltsin, 32, who was born with low vision.
Yeltsin, who holds the world record in the 1,500m T11 class, with a time of 3:57.60 – which earned him gold at the Tokyo Games – will return to the track next Monday (September 2). He will compete in the 1,500m qualifying event, along with Júlio César Agripino, world champion in the event in Kobe (Japan).
Athletics is the sport that has won the most medals for Brazil in the history of the Paralympic Games. The total number of podiums, with the gold and bronze won this Friday (30), rose to 172 (49 gold, 70 silver and 53 bronze).
