Paris Paralympics conclude with Japan winning more gold than Tokyo Games; final days set for medal battle

SAINT-DENIS, France — The Paris Paralympic Games officially ended Sunday after 12 days of competition, with Japan taking home 14 gold medals, more than the 13 medals it won at the 2021 Games in Tokyo.

The closing ceremony took place on Sunday at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just outside Paris. The Games will be held in Los Angeles in 2028.

At the Paris Paralympic Games, Japan won a total of 41 medals: 14 gold, 10 silver and 17 bronze, falling short of the country’s record total of 52 at the 2004 Athens Games.

In terms of medal count, China finished first, both in gold and overall, with a total of 220 medals, 94 of which were gold.

Japan ranked 10th in gold medal count and 11th overall.

Athletes from 168 countries and regions competed in the Paris Games. However, due to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus competed only as neutral Paralympic athletes, without representing their countries.

At the closing ceremony, International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons praised the success of the Games, saying: “Paris 2024 has set a benchmark for all future Paralympic Games.”

Subheading: Gold and Bronze Medal Rush

Japan swept to gold and bronze in the final days of competition. Misato Michishita in the women’s marathon T12 visual impairment class and Tomoki Suzuki in the men’s wheelchair marathon T54 physical impairment class both took bronze. Tokito Oda won a gold medal in the men’s wheelchair tennis singles on Saturday.