Oney Tapia gold in the F11 discus throw: how the competition went · Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
It wasn’t a simple start for Oney Tapia in the F11 discus throw final at Paris 2024. The rain, first and foremost, was not forgiving. But in his mind was also the previous shot put final, where he finished seventh.
The first two throws are 37.11m and 35.37m, then he loosens up and starts flirting with the 40 meters: 39.65m on his third attempt, enough to secure a place on the virtual podium.
The only one above 40 meters, at that point, is the Iranian Hassan Bajoulvand, with 41.75m on his second attempt. Tapia struggles with a slight balance issue on his fourth throw (33.91m), then unveils his masterpiece: 41.92m on his fifth throw, which propels him to the top with just one attempt left for all competitors in the event.
The Brazilian Alessandro Rodrigo da Silva, world record holder, who had intimidated the Italian on the third throw, improves: the final 38.84m, however, is not enough to reach the podium. The 39.15m of Mahdi Olad (IRI) and the 39.60m of Alvaro del Amo Cano (ESP) don’t pose a threat either, with Tapia already assured of a medal.
The only one who can contend for gold is still Bajoulvand, who, lacking momentum, is still able to surpass the 40-meter mark but stops at 40.44m. It is the certainty Tapia was waiting for to celebrate: he goes back to the platform for his final attempt (39.09m), but he already knows he is the Paralympic champion, for the first time in his career.
A gold, his first at the Games, to add to the one he won this year at the World Championships in Kobe and those at the European Championships in 2016 and 2018, for a Grand Slam finally complete in discus throw. A gold that brings Italy’s total to 14, just like at Tokyo 2020.