Fleur Jong: A Stellar Victory on the 100 Meters at Paralympic Games

Fleur Jong Leads Netherlands to Victory

On the ninth day of the Paralympic Games in Paris, Fleur Jong, Kimberly Alkemade, and Marlène van Gansewinkel delivered a stunning performance in the 100 meters sprint T64 class, securing a complete Dutch podium. Two-time world champion Jong, who previously finished fourth in 2021, sprinted an unbeatable time of 12.54 seconds to claim the gold medal. Alkemade, the fifth place finisher in Tokyo, followed closely with a time of 12.70 seconds, while reigning champion Van Gansewinkel celebrated her third-place finish in 12.72 seconds.

Record-Breaking Performances

Jong, who holds the world record at 12.35 seconds, previously won gold in the long jump at these Games, with Alkemade also adding a silver medal in the 200 meters. Van Gansewinkel, champion of the 100 meters in Tokyo, had won silver in her other two events in Paris. How does a blade work in para-athletics? We caught up with Jong and Joël de Jong during a training session, and former para-athlete Marije Smits explains it in the video below.

Other Noteworthy Achievements

In the men's competition, Olivier Hendriks clinched his second Paralympic medal in the 400 meters (T64), finishing third after taking silver in Tokyo. The podium mirrored that of the prior Games, but the medals differed. American Hunter Woodhall captured gold, leaving German world record holder and reigning champion Johannes Floors with silver. Hendriks narrowly missed silver, finishing just a hundredth of a second behind Floors. See below for reactions from Jong, Alkemade, Van Gansewinkel, and Hendriks.