Paralympics: Wheelchair sprinter Maxime Carabin takes first gold medal for Belgium

Wheelchair sprinter Maxime Carabin has on Friday taken the first gold medal for Belgium at the Paralympic Games in Paris. The 23-year-old from Liège convincingly won the final of the 400m T52 class competition.

Maxime Carabin entered the Stade de France as the top favourite and also fulfilled that role during the race. He finished first in 55.10, ahead of two Japanese athletes: Tomoki Sato, second in 56.26, and Tomoya Ito, third in 1:01.08.

Earlier in the day, Carabin had already set a new Paralympic record in the heats, finishing in a time of 54.48. His own world record is 52.00.

The 23-year-old is the reigning world champion in the 100m, 400m and 1,500m in the T52 class. T52 is a wheelchair class for athletes with very limited movement of the trunk and legs, and slight to moderately limited movement of one arm and shoulders. Carabin lost the use of his legs and part of his left arm during a handball match.

These are his first Paralympic Games. He is also scheduled to compete in the 100m competition next week, in which he also is the top favourite. 

For Belgium, this is the second medal at the Paralympics in Paris. Earlier in the day, Ewoud Vromant took the silver medal in the 3km pursuit (C2 class) competition.

^{Belgian wheelchair sprinter Maxime Carabin celebrates after winning the final of the 400m T52 class competition at the Paralympic Games in Paris, France on 30 August 2024 © BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR}