Ukrainian Paralympian Breaks World Record in S11 100m Backstroke at Paris Paralympics to Secure Second Gold
In a breathtaking performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Ukrainian swimmer Mykhailo Serbin shattered the world record in the S11 men’s 100m backstroke, clinching gold and defending his title from Tokyo. The 20-year-old, who competes in the classification for athletes with the highest level of visual impairment, led the race at La Défense Arena on Sunday, with fellow Ukrainian Danylo Chufarov securing bronze.
Serbin’s victory marks his second Paralympic gold, having first won the event at just 17 years old in Tokyo. Reflecting on his win, Serbin expressed his elation:
“I feel fantastic, because this is the second victory in the whole Paralympic Games that I’ve seen.”
The S11 classification requires athletes to wear blacked-out goggles, ensuring an even playing field. Tappers stand at the pool’s edge, using padded staffs to signal when swimmers are nearing the wall, guiding them through their race.
Describing the intense final lap, Serbin said,
“It was very difficult, because I didn’t understand how many meters I needed to swim to reach the finish. I just knew one thing – I needed to be the first and I needed to do this for myself, for my victory, for my family. That is my motivation.”
The day proved fruitful for Ukraine’s swimming team, with Yevheneii Bohodaiko and Danylo Semenykhin earning bronze in the SB6 and SB5 men’s 100m breaststroke events, and Anna Hontar also taking bronze in the SB5 women’s 100m breaststroke.
Serbin’s journey to gold was particularly poignant. His hometown pool in Kharkiv, where he trained as a young athlete, was destroyed by Russian bombs following the 2022 invasion. Despite the adversity, Serbin’s triumph in Paris stands as a testament to his resilience and dedication.
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