Paralympics 2024
Mariyappan Thangavelu battles fever to clinch third consecutive Paralympic medal
Mariyappan Thangavelu became the first Indian para-athlete to win medals at the three consecutive editions of the Paralympics.
Mariyappan Thangavelu was looking supremely confident till the 1.85m mark in the final of the men's high jump T63 at the Paris Paralympics.
However, after the 1.85m mark, double Paralympic medalist Thangavelu struggled with his rhythm and failed to clear the 1.88m in three attempts. Nevertheless, he won his third consecutive Paralympic medal with a bronze.
The T63 class is for athletes who have limb deficiencies such as amputations or missing or shortened limbs from birth in their legs.
Thangavelu won gold in the 2016 Paralympic Games and silver in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. His compatriot Sharad Kumar won the silver medal in the same event bettering his brozne medal from Tokyo Paralympics.
Later in an interaction with the media, Thangavelu revealed that due to a fever previous night his body was not feeling right.
"I was feeling good after the warm-up but my body was a little stiff throughout the event. I was having fever yesterday," said Thangavelu in an interaction with media after his medal win.
When asked how was his body responding, Thangavelu said,"My muscles were not opening up and I didn't find the required rhythm."
Thangavelu, who comes from a poor family in Tamil Nadu, suffered a freak accident when a drunk bus driver ran over him, crushing his right leg below the knee.
Despite the permanent disability, Thangavelu became the third Indian to win a gold at the Paralympics and created history yesterday by becoming the first Indian para athlete to win a medal in three consecutive editions.
"Nevertheless, a bronze medal is a good show for me and my next focus is on the world championships," Thangavelu concluded.