<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>328471</docID> <postdate>2024-09-06 08:24:19</postdate> <headline>Canberra’s Vanessa Low claims long jump gold</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-328472" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240906194482143773-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Vanessa Low flies towards gold medal success in the women's long jump with a world record leap. (Drew Chislett/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>George Clarke</strong> in Paris</span></p> <p><strong>Long-jumper Vanessa Low has set her sights on cracking the six-metre mark after claiming a third-straight Paralympic gold. </strong></p> <p>On her first jump at the Stade de France on Thursday, Low (T61), set a new world record of 5.45m.</p> <p>Her closest competitor – silver medallist Martina Carboni – jumped just 5.06m, further solidifying the 34-year-old Canberran's dominance across the sport.</p> <p>But despite winning three consecutive golds while representing both Germany and Australia, Low said she wants to keep driving for more.</p> <p>"I love putting myself on the big stage, and I think I can jump six metres," she said.</p> <p>"I think this is my next big goal, six is possible, I want to break down barriers.</p> <p>"When I first picked up the sport we were at 4.5m and now we are all pushing boundaries."</p> <p>The long-jumper, who returned to first spot on the podium after giving birth to son Matteo in June 2022, added: "When I went to bed last night, I had a feeling I was going to open up big."</p> <p>Low's was one of three Australian gold medals on day seven.</p> <p>Lauren Parker won the H1-4 road race road race and swimmer Timothy Hodge finished first in the S9 200m individual medley.</p> <p>Hodge, who lost his right foot as a child, once told his parents he wouldn't be good at anything.</p> <p>After he played his part in Australia's 34 point 100m relay gold medal win, he now has two golds from Paris</p> <p>"When I told that to my parents they were adamant, no, we'll find something that I was good at," said Hodge.</p> <p>"It was something they worked their whole lives to give me the best opportunities and find what I was good at.</p> <p>"I am extremely proud to say that all the hard times and everything was worth it."</p> <p>Amid the success of Low, Parker and Hodge, Australian wheelchair racer Ballard was putting competition organisers on notice with a view to Brisbane hosting the 2032 Paralympics.</p> <p>Ballard, who has amassed eight medals across seventh Games, finished sixth in her T53 400m race.</p> <p>But Ballard was left frustrated by Paris 2024 bosses for failing to consider the needs of para-athletes.</p> <p>The Australian team co-captain revealed in the build-up to the 400m race on Thursday wheelchair athletes were only given three lanes to conduct warm-ups.</p> <p>"We're here to perform out there, not show you how we can survive that challenge," Ballard said.</p> <p>Ballard, who raced in lane nine, had to completely reset her steering in the frantic moments leading into her race because the angles didn't match the practice track.</p> <p>Wheelchair athletes have pointed out throughout the Games that the stadium design at several venues - most notably the narrow corridors of the Stade de France - are challenging to navigate.</p> <p>"You don't have to add on afterwards... (so) I don't have to do 57 right hand turns through here (the media zone), which is not good for me," Ballard said.</p> <p>"I don't have to go over crappy surfaces with my very expensive tyres that could pop at any moment.</p> <p>"There's all these things that, if you designed (with para-athletes) in mind from the get-go, then everyone's able to perform at their best."</p> <p>https://citynews.com.au/2024/parker-wins-another-gold-archery-duo-tumble-out/</p> </body>