Algeria’s Brahim Guendouz captured Africa’s first-ever Paracanoe gold medal on an historic day of racing at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Guendouz, who is part of the International Canoe Federation’s development programme, marked Algeria’s Paralympic debut in the sport with gold in the men’s KL3 after a thrilling final.
History was also made by Australia’s Curtis McGrath, who extended his record gold-medal tally to four with victory in the men’s KL2.
Charlotte Henshaw became the first-ever winner of the women’s VL3 at the Games, while her British team-mate Emma Wiggs made it three women’s VL2 titles in a row.
Hungary’s Peter Kiss was the other gold medallist at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, clinching the men’s KL1 crown for a second successive Paralympics.
After five of the 10 events, all five continents have picked up at least one medal to underline the globalisation of Paracanoe, which first featured at Rio 2016.
Guendouz has etched his name in African Paracanoe history with his stunning triumph at Paris 2024, as the continent had previously not won a medal.
Senegal’s Edmond Sanka was the other African athlete in the final, as he placed fifth behind Australia’s Dylan Littlehales in silver and Brazil's Miqueias Elias Rodrigues in bronze.
Guendouz hopes his success and Sanka’s presence in the final will inspire more African paddlers to follow their path.
“It’s incredible to be honest and I know this medal will make a big jump in my country and Africa generally to develop our sport,” said Guendouz.
“I know there is a lot of talented athletes right there, but they are waiting for the right moment and right opportunity.
“If they have the right people, as I have, they will be in the same place that I am sitting in right now.
“This is Algeria’s first participation and first gold medal.
“I know that in the next years our sport will be developed more and especially in Africa because there are a lot of goods athletes over there.
“We have two Africans in the final and that is something to be proud of.”
Guendouz started Paracanoe in 2017 and joined the ICF’s Talent Identification Programme in 2019.
He won Africa’s first-ever world medal in 2023 and has been training in Spain since February thanks to an International Paralympic Committee development grant which the ICF successfully secured.
“I have been preparing in Seville with the Spanish Paralympic team and that helped me a lot to be in the elite level,” said the 25-year-old.
“In my country I am the only Paracanoe athlete and I don’t have a lot of competitors.
“That gave me a big opportunity to be reach my full potential.”
No Paracanoe paddler has won more Paralympic golds than McGrath, who claimed his fourth - and third in succession - in the men’s KL2.
Great Britain’s David Phillipson took silver, with Ukraine’s Mykola Syniuk earning bronze.
“I am over the moon,” said McGrath.
“I'm just so proud to execute the results and get the gold medal and defend my championship.
“My wife and child are at home supporting me from Australia.
“They couldn't make the trip but their names are written on my boat and it's a nice reminder that they're along here in spirit with me.”
Hungary’s Kiss registered a Paralympic Games best time of 44.55 to retain the men’s KL1 title.
The 21-year-old proved too strong for the rest of the field, with Brazil’s Luis Carlos Cardoso da Silva picking up silver and France’s Remy Boulle taking bronze in what was the same one-two-three as at Tokyo 2020.
"I could enjoy this one more than the one in Tokyo,” said Kiss.
“This one is perhaps even more precious because there's so much work behind it, and also because of the (chest) injury I had a few months before this competition.
“It's always harder to defend the title than to get it for the first time.”
The women’s VL3 made its Paralympic debut, with Henshaw overcoming compatriot Hope Gordon to take top spot.
Gordon claimed silver, while Yongyuan Zhong became the first Chinese paddler to win a Paracanoe medal with bronze.
“We are immensely proud that we have gender equality in terms of events,” said Henshaw.
“To be the first VL3 Paralympic champion is incredibly special. I wanted to come into the Games and just enjoy it.
“I have made a conscious effort to just be in the moment and soak it up. I have got my school friends and family here. They have all been a massive support for me, so I am just so grateful for them to be here today.”
Wiggs also delivered gold for Great Britain, winning the women’s VL2 title for a third time after success at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Canada’s Brianna Hennessy sealed silver, while Australia’s Susan Seipel placed third to complete the medal podium.
“It's never a guarantee that you're going to get on the podium, so to be there again was fantastic,” said Wiggs.
“Every medal is a new, different experience.
“It's never something to take for granted.”
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