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E-mail Xinhua, September 9, 2024
Switzerland dominated the marathon T54 category by winning both men's and women's golds in the last competition day at the Paris Paralympic Games on Sunday.
Catherine Debrunner led the women's race from the start, finishing one hour four minutes and 23 seconds ahead of Australia's defending champion Madison De Rozario in 1:41:50.
"I feel more exhausted than ever in my life," said the 29-year-old Debrunner, who also clinched the title in the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m track events in Paris.
"This marathon is really at the edge for us wheelchair racers, especially the five kilometre cobblestone section up the hill to the Champs-Elysees. I have never ever had that experience. I really thought I was going to die."
Debrunner's compatriot Marcel Hug won the men's race in 1:27:39, followed by Chinese athlete Jin Hua who took the silver in his season best of 1:31:19.
The 38-year-old Hug came to Paris as a six-time Paralympian. He took four golds at the Tokyo Games three years ago, but only managed to defend the marathon title.
In the women's wheelchair basketball final, the Netherlands beat the United States 63-49 to defend their title.
Earlier in the bronze medal match, China outplayed Canada 65-43.
Iran grabbed two out of four powerlifting golds on Sunday, but China led the medal standings of the sport with six golds, eight silvers and one bronze.
China dominated the final medal standings of the Games with 94 golds, 76 silvers and 50 bronzes, followed by Britain and the United States.
