Another Paralympic Medal Secured in Swimming

Fanni Illés won the silver medal in the 100m breaststroke of the SB4 category at the Paris Paralympics on Monday. The defending champion finished second in the morning heats – only China’s Cheng Jiao was faster by five hundredths of a sec

By: hungarytoday.hu

Sep 03 2024
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Another Paralympic Medal Secur

Fanni Illés won the silver medal in the 100m breaststroke of the SB4 category at the Paris Paralympics on Monday.

The defending champion finished second in the morning heats – only China’s Cheng Jiao was faster by five hundredths of a second – and swam in lane 5 in the evening final. After the heats, she said she still had strength left for the finals and, as Paralympic champion, she does not feel the pressure. She added that for her the greatest joy now is being there for all the races with her two-year-old son Mór.

The Hungarian talent made a tactical start in the packed La Défense Arena, where she faced three Chinese, two neutral Russian and one each from Spain and Italy in the final eight. Illés was still in fourth place at 50 meters, but in the second half of the distance she and Italy’s Giulia Ghiretti both made up ground on China’s Cheng Jiao who was leading the field.

It looked like the Hungarian swimmer was in the lead, but in the end she and Ghiretti crossed the finish line almost simultaneously.

Only the timer could make the difference between their performances: the Italian was first, while Fanni Illés finished second, just four hundredths behind.

After her bravura swim, Fanni Illés told M4 Sport that for her, this silver medal is worth a gold medal, as she has been through a very difficult time. “You do not feel these four hundredths, you think you are all at once. This time it was the Italian girl, but I am happy for her because she already deserved the gold.

For me, silver is worth gold now because the road I have been on has not been easy. I had my son two years ago, and unfortunately I was hit by postpartum depression. It was very difficult to get back on track, so for me it is worth its weight in gold.

I know that for Hungarians it is only silver, but for me it is gold. I have no regrets, I am really happy with the silver. It is a silver medal year, I think it is a fitting end to the last period to have done so well. If someone said that two years ago, I think I would have signed it.”

“With my beautiful silver. Proof that there is a way out of the darkest place,” wrote the 32-year-old para-athlete on Facebook. Fanni Illés, who was born with a lower limb deficiency and fused fingers, was competing in her fifth Paralympic Games and carried the Hungarian team flag at the opening ceremony. This is the second medal for the Hungarian team in the French capital, as Zsófia Konkoly won the 400m freestyle in the S9 category on Thursday.

Paralympic Team's First Gold Medal Secured in 400m Freestyle