Stewart shines with silver in Paris

he legend of Akeem Stewart continues to grow, as the the most decorated sportsman in Trinidad & Tobago history picked up a silver medal in men’s discus throw on Thursday at the Paralympics in Paris, France.

 

The 32-year-old gentle giant threw a season’s best of 59.66 metres, only bested by the USA’s Jeremy Campbell in the F64 final. F64 is for field athletes with moderately affected movement in one or both lower legs or the absence of legs below the knee.

 

Campbell was one of two Americans on the medal rostrum. He set a Paralympic record with a 61.14-metre throw at the Stade de France. Fellow Team USA Paralympian David Blair got bronze at 57.76 metres.

 

The Trinbagonian champion put himself in contention for a medal from his first trial. His series included two fouls, but his fifth-round effort would also have been sufficient for silver. Campbell took first place from the first of his six throws, but set the record in the final round.

 

A gold medallist at Rio 2016 in the F44 javelin throw, and a silver medallist in discus throw, Stewart has now collected six global medals, including World Championship gold medals in javelin and shot at London 2017. He has also set world records for all three throwing events. He is the joint-top Paralympic Games medallist from the Land of the Hummingbird.

 

Via their social media platforms, the Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee offered congratulations to Stewart.

 

“Congratulations to our World Record Holder in the Men’s Discus Throw-F43, Akeem Stuart of Trinidad & Tobago! Akeem walked away with a silver medal at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, achieving a season’s best of 59.66 metres  in the men’s Discus Throw F64. Your dedication and hard work continue to inspire us all!”

 

Having missed out on the pandemic-delayed Tokyo 2020 Games, Stewart was the sole athlete from Trinidad & Tobago at Paris 2024. Rachael Marshall won medals in athletics and swimming at the 1984 Paralympics in New York, USA. She got gold in the L5 javelin throw and shot put, and bronze in the L6 100m freestyle.

 

The 2024 edition of the Paralympics features some 4,400 athletes from around the world, competing in 22 sports across various iconic venues including the Eiffel Tower, the Chateau de Versailles, the River Seine, and the Grand Palais.

(TF)