Emma Wiggs Shines in Paris with Double Paralympic Medal Triumph
Sep 9, 2024
Emma continued to demonstrate her remarkable prowess on the water at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, where she added two more Paralympic medals to her collection.
She retained her VL2 title in stunning fashion, becoming the only competitor in the final to break the one-minute barrier, finishing with a time of 58.88 seconds. "Incredible emotions. I wasn't quite sure what was possible," Emma said after her victory. "It's been a tough year – tough really since Tokyo – and I am so grateful to my coach and to get a medal in the bag for the team."
Emma didn’t stop there. In the women's KL2 final, she fought through challenging weather conditions to secure a silver medal behind teammate Charlotte Henshaw, continuing the British paracanoeing team’s dominance. As Charlotte powered to gold, Emma capitalised on a key moment in the race, overtaking Hungary’s Katalin Varga to ensure another podium finish for ParalympicsGB. Emma, reflecting on her second medal of the Games, said: "I'm incredibly shocked and blown away to get the silver. To pick up a gold three Games in a row, that's pretty mind-blowing, and the silver is the icing on the cake."
With her success in Paris, Emma now holds an impressive tally of four Paralympic golds and two silvers. Her achievements, alongside the rest of the British paracanoeing team, have set a new standard, as ParalympicsGB’s paracanoeing team finished the Games with a record-breaking eight medals. Emma’s resilience, skill, and unwavering dedication have powered her to success in Paris and her remarkable journey demonstrates the true power of perseverance and teamwork.