Triple Paralympians Curtis McGrath and Dylan Littlehales have had a dream start to their Paris 2024 campaigns after qualifying for the A Finals in their respective events. 

Defending Paralympic champion McGrath won the KL2 in style, seemingly cruising into the A Final. He backed up that performance winning the VL3 heat in a Paralympic Games Best (PGB) time of 48.97.

With three gold medals already to his name, McGrath said his goal was to win each heat to avoid the semi-finals. 

“I had a really good start in the K1, pretty happy with how I went there and quite a comfortable win,” he said.

“I have a bit more in the tank there so I’m looking forward to racing that tomorrow [Saturday] morning, and not having to do the semi-final which was the goal for both boats. 

“In the V1 we have been working on some stuff, I haven’t been on top of the podium in a while now… it’s a top field and it’s going to be tough racing again.  

“I was nervous this morning. There has been a lot of prep and a lot of excitement, so it does add to the nervousness given we are one of the last events of the Games. 

“It’s amazing to have crowds. It’s great to have family and friends here that have travelled all the way from Australia, with my wife and son watching from back home,” he said. 

His training mate Littlehales produced a strong come-from-behind win in the KL3 heat to also avoid the semi-finals.

“I didn’t get off the line quite as good as I thought I would do, but that’s what we expected with that head wind, it’s hard to get that top speed right up,” he said.

“Coming into the second 100m I made sure I dropped my shoulders down and didn’t let that lactate build up too much in the arms and shoulders, really drove from the core and legs and managed to get me home in the last 50m,” he said. 

Like McGrath, Littlehales has been forced to wait until the final three days of the Games for racing to begin.   

“Last week, when we were settling into the Village, I was thinking about what everyone else was doing and had some nerves. But then this week, I’ve just thought it doesn’t matter what they’re doing, it only matters if I have a good race.  

“All the work is done now… usually I have the butterflies in my stomach two or three days before but today just as we drove through the front gates and before I got on the water, I wasn’t too bad,” he said. 

Dual Paralympic medalist Susan Seipel faces a harder path to the finals of the VL2 and KL2 after finishing third in both her heats. The triple Paralympian will be looking to draw on her experience as she looks to better her silver and bronze from previous Games. 

Saturday 7 September 

10:28am (6.28pm AEST) I Semi Final I WVL2 200m I Susan Seipel 

11:36am (7.36pm AEST) I Final I MKL2 200m I Curtis McGrath 

*11:52am (7.52pm AEST) I Final I WVL200m 

12:10pm (8.10pm AEST) I Final I MKL3 200m I Dylan Littlehales 

Sunday 8 September 

10:14am (6.14pm AEST) I Semi Final I WKL2 200m I Susan Seipel 

*11:41am (7.41 AEST) I Final I WKL2 200m I Susan Seipel 

12:33pm (8.33pm AEST) I FINAL I MVL2 200m I Curtis McGrath 

 *Pending qualification from the semi final

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By: Lauren Ryan, Paralympics Australia