Articles for tag: 100m backstroke S2, 100m butterfly S13, 200m freestyle S5, 400m freestyle S9, 50m freestyle S10, 50m freestyle S6, Belarusian Boki, blushes, Bocciardo, bronze medal, Carlotta Gilley, Francesco Bocciardo, Gabrielzinho, Gilli, Hugo Didier, Ihar Boki, Italian Paralympic Games, Italys, Monica Bozzioni, Neutral Paralympic Athletes, Paralympics, Poppy Maskill, save, swimming gold, World record, Yi Chen, Yuyan Jian

Bocciardo, Gilli save Italy’s blushes at the Paralympics

PARIS: Francesco Bocciardo and Carlotta Gilli kicked off Italy’s long-awaited quest for multiple Paralympic swimming golds as they both defended their titles on Thursday. Bocciardo, 30, who has a condition that affects movement in his legs, set a Paralympic record in the men’s 200m freestyle S5 in the penultimate race of the opening day of pool action at La Defense Arena, Paris. Partially sighted Gilli, 23, was equally impressive in the S13 women’s 100m butterfly after Italy had made a slow start in the last 15 race before claiming eight medals in total. “Carlotta inspired me. She gave me the