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President presents state awards to Polish Paralympic athletes

29.10.2024 13:00
Polish President Andrzej Duda has presented state awards to athletes who competed and won medals at this year's Paralympic Games in Paris.
President Andrzej Duda (centre) hands out state decorations to Polish Paralympic athletes during a meeting in Warsaw on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.
President Andrzej Duda (centre) hands out state decorations to Polish Paralympic athletes during a meeting in Warsaw on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

At a meeting in Warsaw on Tuesday, Duda praised the athletes and their coaches, thanking them for their participation and strong performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Team Poland won 23 medals—eight gold, six silver and nine bronze—at the Games, placing it 16th in the overall medal standings.

Polish athletes won 23 medals, including eight gold, at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Summer Games, which ended on Sunday. Polish athletes won 23 medals, including eight gold, at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Summer Games, which ran from August 28 to September 8. Photos: PAP/Polski Komitet Paralimpijski (PKPar)

'You inspire people with disabilities to overcome barriers'

"I want to thank each of you for the joy and pride your hard work, dedication and achievements bring us," Duda said during the meeting at the presidential palace in Warsaw.

Addressing the athletes and their coaches, he added: "We are deeply grateful for the way you inspire people with disabilities to overcome barriers, to fight and to live fully—demonstrating remarkable class, potential and possibilities."

Poland was represented by a team of 84 athletes—43 men and 41 women—at the Paris Paralympics. They competed in 15 sports, including para-athletics, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting and kayaking.

More than 4,400 competitors from around the world took part in the global multi-sport event in France, which celebrated the sporting talent of athletes with various impairments.

Team Poland won 24 medals, seven gold, six silver and 11 bronze, and finished 17th in the overall medal standings at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.

Poland scooped 39 medals and finished 10th in the medals table at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The next Paralympic Summer Games will be held in Los Angeles in 2028.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP