Post by Admin on Aug 26, 2021 22:19:15 GMT
Anastasia Pagonis won Team USA's first gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics!
On Thursday, the 17-year-old swimmer competed in the first major international meet of her career and bested her own world record.
Taking place at the Tokyo Aquatic Center on the second day of the Paralympic competitions, Pagonis took part in the women's 400m freestyle S11, finishing in a time of 4:54.49 — 10.85 seconds ahead of the rest of her fellow athletes.
During the swimming event, Liesette Bruinsma of the Netherlands finished second with 5:05.34, while China's Cai Liwen scored bronze in 5:07.56.
"If you told me this a few years ago, I wouldn't even think I'd be alive so just being here and being able to have this experience and this — unbelievable," Pagonis said after her victory. "I love being able to bond with my teammates and have this experience with all of them."
The Long Island native added, "I think supporting and cheering on my teammates is super important."
Pagonis' teammate, McClain Hermes, meanwhile, finished sixth in 5:29.24 and veteran attendee Colleen Young finished in eighth place.
Pagonis' previous world record of 4:56.16 was accomplished in the final of the U.S. Paralympic Trials in June, NBC Sports reported.
Looking ahead, Pagonis has three events left to compete in while in Tokyo — the 50m freestyle on Aug. 27, 200m individual medley on Aug. 30, and 100m freestyle on Sept. 3.
On Thursday, the 17-year-old swimmer competed in the first major international meet of her career and bested her own world record.
Taking place at the Tokyo Aquatic Center on the second day of the Paralympic competitions, Pagonis took part in the women's 400m freestyle S11, finishing in a time of 4:54.49 — 10.85 seconds ahead of the rest of her fellow athletes.
During the swimming event, Liesette Bruinsma of the Netherlands finished second with 5:05.34, while China's Cai Liwen scored bronze in 5:07.56.
"If you told me this a few years ago, I wouldn't even think I'd be alive so just being here and being able to have this experience and this — unbelievable," Pagonis said after her victory. "I love being able to bond with my teammates and have this experience with all of them."
The Long Island native added, "I think supporting and cheering on my teammates is super important."
Pagonis' teammate, McClain Hermes, meanwhile, finished sixth in 5:29.24 and veteran attendee Colleen Young finished in eighth place.
http://instagram.com/p/CTCohelAzkx
Pagonis' previous world record of 4:56.16 was accomplished in the final of the U.S. Paralympic Trials in June, NBC Sports reported.
Looking ahead, Pagonis has three events left to compete in while in Tokyo — the 50m freestyle on Aug. 27, 200m individual medley on Aug. 30, and 100m freestyle on Sept. 3.