Paralympic Games: Third medal for France with silver won by Alex Portal in the 100m butterfly

Alex Portal a décroché l'argent. MAXPPP – Andrew Matthews

Le Français Alex Portal a décroché jeudi 29 août au soir la médaille d'argent sur le 100 m papillon dans la catégorie S13 aux Jeux Paralympiques de Paris 2024, terminant juste derrière le détendeur du record du monde, le Bélarusse Ihar Boki qui participe sous bannière neutre.

In a highly charged atmosphere, the 22-year-old para-swimmer completed the distance in 54.38 seconds, finishing just behind the big favourite Ihar Boki (54.13) and ahead of the Spaniard Enrique Jose Alhambra Mollar (56.27).

This is the second French medal in para-swimming, after Ugo Didier's gold in the 400m freestyle in the S9 category. Alex Portal is one of the great hopes of swimming at the Paralympic Games in Paris, after being crowned triple world champion last year, in the 100 and 400m freestyle and then in the 200m medley.

Suffers from ocular albinism

He competes in the S13 category, reserved for people with less severe visual impairment. Visually impaired since birth, this swimmer from Saint-Germain-en-Laye has ocular albinism, a genetic disease that also affects his brother Kylian, 17, also a swimmer and who will also take part in the Games.

Alex Portal is taking part in several other Paralympic events at the Paris Games. On Friday, he will once again be at the start for the 100m backstroke. He will then line up on Saturday for the 400m freestyle, notably against his brother, then on Tuesday for the 200m medley.