Daniel Molina, undisputed triathlon gold at the Paris Games

It took a while, but it started in a big way. The triathlon of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games had its competition day on Monday, a day late, and it did so with a big gold for the Spanish team. Daniel Molina was declared PTS3 class champion to add a shiny gold that adds luster to the Spanish medal table.

With the finish line in a magnificent setting on the Alexander III Bridge, over the Seine River and with the Eiffel Tower as the main spectator, a total of eleven classes competed in their competition in a morning session full of finals . Five of them did it first in the morning, with five Spaniards distributed in four of the categories. These left the first great joy in the form of an undisputed victory for Molina.

The PTS3 class, intended for athletes with significant physical disabilities, left a great impression in a unique atmosphere in Paris. Molina, who has an amputation on his right leg, adapted like no other to capitalize on his favoritism and win an unlikely gold medal. This is the fourth gold and the sixteenth Spanish medal of these Games in Paris.

With a time of 1:08:05, the Spaniard had time to celebrate his gold as he overtook his rivals with absolute authority. German Max Gelhaar followed him in 1:06:10, while Dutch Nico van der Burgt closed out the podium in 1:06:47. Diego Lardón finished in seventh place with 1:14:14.

Molina started with maximum control, knowing his possibilities. He felt good in Sena, where he went through the swimming section to reach the transition first. He dropped to third place in cycling, although controlling the disadvantages by around thirty seconds with the race leader, a perfectly recoverable gain for him in the walking section.

He needed almost a kilometer in it to pull himself ahead. Little by little, Molina opens an advantage over his rivals to get an undisputed gold. He even allowed himself the luxury of enjoying the large Spanish public present on the course, who cheered him on until his triumphant crossing of the finish line.

Behind, Diego Lardón came in seventh. He moved throughout the race between that position and ninth, but he consolidated his last position in the second part of the run section to finish 2:38 behind his teammate.

Molina is looking to raise his record in a big way. Five-time world champion, three-time world silver and six-time European champion, he started the sport by swimming, but a motorcycle accident caused him to lose his right leg when he was 22 years old . This led her to return to swimming, where she qualified for the 2004 Athens Games.

He never returned to the Paralympic Games. He started practicing triathlon and the dream was reopened when his class, PTS3, was included in the Paris 2024 competition program last years, he knew he would have a chance and he didn’t let it go. escape: your perfect run is gold.