Hall back on the podium as UQ swimmers win Australia's first Paralympic medals in Paris
By Michael Jones
It didn't matter what colour it was, UQ alum and Paralympic veteran Brenden Hall just wanted to come home from Paris with a medal.
And he did it with 2 events still to race, claiming bronze in the men's S9 400 metres freestyle in front of a packed crowd at La Defense Arena on Friday (AEST).
Hall - the reigning S9 400 metres freestyle world-record holder - touched the wall in a time of 4:15.61, 3.06 seconds behind French swimmer Ugo Didier who stormed home in the final lap to claim gold over Italian Simone Barlaam (silver).
The bronze is the seventh Paralympic medal for Hall (Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences '17), who was desperate to stand on the podium again after missing out in Tokyo.
"I was after a little bit of redemption, and I just wanted to come back with a medal this time," Hall said.
"I didn't care what colour it was and so to be able to do it in front of people who mean the most to me, that's what made me feel it the most."
Hall's efforts are even more remarkable considering he was Australia's flag bearer in the opening ceremony less than 12 hours before he dived into the pool for the heats of the 400 metres.
While he still has 2 events to come - the S9 100 metres backstroke and 100 metres butterfly - it felt like a fitting end to his career, with the five-time Paralympian indicating these Games would be his last.
Ten minutes after Hall won Australia's first Paralympic medal in Paris, UQ student Lakeisha Patterson collected the second - claiming silver in the women's S9 400 metres freestyle.
The 2-time Paralympic gold medallist (4:40.14) led the race until the final lap but was pipped by 0.36 seconds by Hungary's Zsofia Konkoly, who Patterson edged out for gold in the same race at the Tokyo Games.
"I could see her closing in that last 200 and I like a chase so I thought I'd be able to get there tonight," the Bachelor of Communication student said.
"I certainly can't complain, it's my third Paralympics now and I've podiumed at all 3 Games and that's a special feeling."
UQ continued its strong showing in the pool over the weekend, with UQ Swimming Club member Jack Ireland winning a silver and bronze at his first Paralympics after missing the qualifying time for the Tokyo Games.
Ireland stormed home to take a bronze in the men's S14 200 metres freestyle on Sunday with a personal best time of 1:53.77.
"The plan was to just stay composed for the first 50 metres," said Ireland, who won silver in the same event at the 2023 World Championships and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
"The second 50 was the go-to, so just building it up and then use my legs more leading into that third 50 metres and then just take off and give it everything in that last 50."
He added a silver to his medal tally on Monday morning (AEST) when he led the Australian team in the mixed S14 4x100 metres freestyle relay.
Follow all the UQ athletes in action at the Paralympics in Contact magazine's live blog
