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Paralympics 2024: Gabriel Dos Santos Araujo
Paralympics 2024: Gabriel Dos Santos Araujo
(France televisions)
A true star in Brazil, Gabrielzinho won the title in the 100m backstroke in the S2 category on Thursday, the category for severe disabilities since Gabriel dos Santos Araujo was born without arms.
A huge champion. Born without arms, the phenomenon Gabriel dos Santos Araujo began his gold rush at the Paris Paralympic Games by winning the 100m backstroke final (S2 category) on Thursday, August 29. The Brazilian caused a sensation in the Paris La Défense Arena pool with his amazing technique, in which he undulates his entire body to move forward in the water. “I dominated the race, I killed the match! I still can’t believe it. It was the perfect race, which crowned all my efforts. One out of three”he reacted to the Brazilian channel Sportv.
A big winner, he now hopes to do better than in Tokyo, where, for his first Games, he won three medals, but had to settle for silver in the 100m backstroke. Charismatic and popular in his native country (he has 50,000 followers on Instagram), Gabrielzinho was born with atrophy of the limbs which does not prevent him from walking. Nor from aiming for the top since he will defend his titles in the 50m and 200m freestyle in Paris.