Highs, lows and rapture: the Guardian’s most memorable Paris Paralympic moments

Paul MacInnes

Best moment Watching Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid get the gold medal they so desperately wanted, and deserved, in the wheelchair tennis. Closely followed by the men’s final that Hewett lost, but only just and in thrilling circumstances.

Biggest disappointment The track and field wasn’t wildly successful for Great Britain and the atmosphere at the Stade de France rarely matched that of the smaller venues, mainly because it was never full.

Star of the Games I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the blind sprinter Omara Durand Elías, from Cuba, is a titan and had another clean sweep of gold medals.

Crowd-pleaser There was no USA surge but they brought star power to the Stade de France, from Hunter Woodhall and Ezra Frech to Roderick Townsend‑Roberts and Noelle Malkamaki.

One to watch for LA 2028 Any of the above.

Paris Paralympics in three words The fire relit.

Tanya Aldred

Best moment Hard to beat La Marseillaise belted out late into the night after France were awarded their blind football gold. Magical.

Biggest disappointment Things were at times difficult for those covering the Games in a wheelchair.

Star of the Games Paris, the outrageous beauty, and her crowds. After much hand-wringing, they largely turned up and roared on their own, and everyone else too. And for Great Britain, the national lottery, name‑checked over and over by British athletes.

Crowd-pleaser Has to be blind football but the drama of fencing in the soaring Grand Palais pushes it close.

One to watch for LA Heïdi Gaugain, pipped on the line by Sarah Storey in the road race and seriously pissed off about it. Only 19, she’ll be back – for gold.

Paris Paralympics in three words Make it count.

Ade Adepitan

Best moment Simple. Britain getting to the final of the men’s wheelchair basketball.

Biggest disappointment Some of the lack of access around Paris. Despite some improvement, there are definitely still problems.

Star of the Games I’m going to go there again. Despite the disappointment, it’s the basketball boys for making a first final in 28 years.

Crowd-pleaser Matt Bush at the taekwondo, when he picked up a gold medal and his baby daughter and did that little dance for the crowd.

One to watch for LA 2028 Ezra Frech from Team USA. Already a star, he’s going to be on home turf.

Paris Paralympics in three words Most incredible vibe.

Angelique Chrisafis

Best moment The cheering across Paris as the French blind footballers and their stupendous captain Frédéric Villeroux beat the world champions Argentina on penalties, winning gold beneath the Eiffel Tower.

Biggest disappointment France’s domestic political crisis dragging on throughout the Games.

Star of the Games The young generation of French para-athletes: the cyclist Alexandre Léauté, badminton’s Charles Noakes, the swimmer Ugo Didier and boccia’s Aurélie Aubert.

Crowd-pleaser The French para‑cycling team winning 10 gold medals as home fans raised the roof at the velodrome and flocked to road races in Clichy-sous-Bois.

One to watch for LA 2028 The French judoka Hélios Latchoumanaya and taekwondo’s Djelika Diallo.

Paris Paralympics in three words Absolute sporting excellence.

Tom Jenkins

Best moment Being in the velodrome next to Trevor Jordan, the father of Lizzie Jordan, as the British cyclist, blinded by E coli poisoning, was led over to him as the champion in the 1,000m time trial. You’d need a heart of stone not to be moved by that.

Biggest disappointment The whole top tier of the Stade de France being completely empty for many athletics sessions.

Star of the Games Ongiou Timeon, Kiribati’s first Paralympian. The blind shot putter came to the other side of the world to carry his flag and throw a big stone six times. He finished eighth (of eight) and his best effort was roughly half of the next best athlete. But did he have fun? You bet he did!

Crowd-pleaser Gabrielzinho, the Brazilian swimmer with short legs and no arms who propels forward like a dolphin. His legendary poolside celebrations had La Défense Arena in raptures.

One to watch for LA 2028 Timothée Chalamet lookalike Ezra Frech. The 19-year-old American T63 athlete won two gold medals in Paris and will surely be the face of the Games in his home town.

Paris Paralympics in three words Inspiring, breathtaking, tear‑jerking.

John Ashdown

Best moment For pure jaw-drop theatre, that last arrow in the women’s individual compound open bronze-medal match between the British teammates Phoebe Paterson Pine and Jodie Grinham, who is seven months pregnant.

Biggest disappointment Calling off the triathlon events at 3.30am wasn’t the best bit of organisation.

Star of the Games From a UK perspective, Channel 4: every event available to watch for free on its YouTube channel and full, occasionally groundbreaking, coverage on its main channel. This is how to do it.

Crowd-pleaser The celebrations at La Défense Arena for Ugo Didier as he won gold almost rivalled those for Léon Marchand a month earlier.

One to watch for LA 2028 Bly Twomey. Two table tennis bronze medals at the age of 14. The top two steps of the podium surely await.

Paris Paralympics in three words New. Standard. Set.