Exciting Wins for Team USA in Paralympics Dressage and Swimming

The United States equestrian team continued their winning streak in Paralympics dressage, adding three more medals to their collection on Saturday. Fiona Howard and Rebecca Hart secured their third gold medals of the Paris Games, with Howard winning the Grade II individual freestyle and Hart clinching the top spot in Grade III. Teammate Kate Shoemaker also contributed to the team’s success by claiming bronze in Grade IV.

Competing in five different grades, with Grade I being for the most severely impaired riders, Howard and Hart have been standout performers throughout the week. Their individual gold medal wins, combined with the team’s victory on Friday, have solidified Team USA’s dominance in the sport.

Long may it continue

In addition to the equestrian triumphs, American swimmer Jessica Long extended her impressive Paralympics medal collection to 31 with a gold medal in the S8 100-meter butterfly event. Clocking a time of 1 minute, 10.59 seconds at La Défense Arena, Long finished ahead of Viktoriia Ishchiulova from Russia, with Britain’s Alice Tai securing the third spot on the podium.

This latest gold medal adds to Long’s outstanding performance at the Paris Games, having also claimed victory in the women’s 400m freestyle earlier in the week. Long’s Paralympic journey began at the age of 12 when she won three gold medals at the 2004 Athens Games, showcasing her incredible talent and determination in the pool.

The S8 category is designated for swimmers with the absence of limbs, and Long, a double amputee, continues to inspire with her athleticism and achievements in the water.