Some of the most memorable moments from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games provided the platform for a number of historic firsts, not least the inaugural time France's capital has hosted the competition.

And what a showcase it delivered.

Zakia Khudadadi won the Refugee Paralympic Team's first-ever medal with bronze in Para Taekwondo in the women’s K44 -47kg class, while Guillaume Junior Atangana became the first male refugee to medal at an Olympic or Paralympic Games after winning bronze in the men's 400m T11 three days later.

"I want to give this medal to the whole world," said Khudadadi, who had made her Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020 just days after a harrowing escape from her home country of Afghanistan.

"I hope that one day there will be freedom in my country, for all the world, for all the girls, for all the women, for all the refugees in the world."

A number of nations were either represented for the first time, such as Sibhatu Kesete Weldemariam, for Eritrea, or claimed inaugural podium places. Palesha Goverdhan won bronze in taekwondo in the women's -57kg K44 discipline, the first-ever Paralympic or Olympic medal for Nepal.

In an altogether different kind of first, Para archer Jodie Grinham became the first known pregnant athlete on a Paralympic podium. The Brit, whose second child is due two months after the Games conclude, won the women's individual compound bronze then mixed team gold alongside Nathan Macqueen, despite having to pause at times to reset her focus due to the baby kicking.

While Great Britain’s Iona Winnifrith (13) and Bly Twomey (14) were among the youngest competitors - and medallists - at Paris 2024, for other athletes, it was their longevity that made them stood out.

Thomas Wandschneider, who had spent six years living in his car as he pursued his Paralympic dream and now runs a holiday home rental business in Spain, won bronze in table tennis at 60 years old.

Japan's Ito Tomoya, meanwhile, who took up Para athletics when he accidentally ordered a racing wheelchair and gave it a try, won bronze in men's 400m T52 at 61.

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