PHOTOS: Memorable moments from the 2024 Paralympics

From historic wins to marriage proposals, this year’s Paralympic Games in Paris has been filled with golden moments.
American Matt Stutzman, known as the “armless archer,” clinched his first Paralympic gold medal with his 149-147 win over China’s Ai Xinliang in the individual compound bow competition. With the win, Stutzman became the first athlete without arms to win a gold medal in para archery.
Sep 1, 2024; Paris, France; Team USA Paralympic Archer Matt Stutzman during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Summer Games at the Invalides Archery Venue. Mandatory Credit: Ryan Beatty-USA TODAY
Also on the archery field, Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham won two medals: bronze in the women’s individual compound and gold in the mixed team compound with her teammate, Nathan MacQueen. At seven months pregnant, she is the first openly pregnant athlete to earn a Paralympic medal in archery.
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 02: Jodie Grinham and Nathan Macqueen of Team Great Britain compete during the Mixed Team Compound Open Quarterfinal Match on day five of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at Esplanade Des Invalides on September 02, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Zakia Khudadadi also claimed a place in history. Winning bronze in Taekwondo, Khudadadi became the first-ever member of the Refugee Paralympic Team to earn a medal at the Paralympic Games.
Paris 2024 Paralympics – Taekwondo – Women K44 -47kg Repechage – Grand Palais, Paris, France – August 29, 2024 Zakia Khudadadi of Refugee Paralympic Team celebrates winning her fight against Nurcihan Ekinci of Turkey REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
In the individual boccia competition at these Games, men and women competed separately for the first time.
Meanwhile, France’s Aurelie Aubert beat all of her boccia competitors, marking the first-ever gold medal for that host country in the sport.
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 02: Aurelie Aubert of Team France reacts after winning during the Boccia Women’s Individual BC1 Gold Medal Match on day five of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at South Paris Arena on September 02, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
When twins Debora and Beatriz Borges Carneiro both earned spots atop the podium for women’s 100m breaststroke, they bowed to the gold medalist, Louise Fiddes, in a throwback to when U.S. gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles paid tribute to Rebeca Andrade of Brazil in the Olympic Games earlier this summer.
Paris 2024 Paralympics – Swimming – Women’s 100m Breaststroke – SB14 Final Medal Ceremony – Paris La Defense Arena, Nanterre, France – September 2, 2024 Gold medallist Louise Fiddes of Britain stands on the podium as silver medallist Debora Borges Carneiro of Brazil and bronze medallist Beatriz Borges Carneiro of Brazil bow REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
In wheelchair rugby, Japan took home the gold in the final against the United States. Team USA made history with Sarah Adam, who became the first female U.S. wheelchair rugby Paralympian at the Games.
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 02: Daisuke ikezaki #7 of Team Japan passes the under pressure from Josh Wheeler #10 and Jeff Butler #6 of Team United States during the Wheelchair Rugby – Open – Gold Medal Game Match on day five of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at Champs-de-Mars Arena on September 02, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Outside of competition, some athletes used their time in the City of Love to propose. One of them was Brazil’s Rogerio Junior Xavier de Oliveira, who popped the question while on the badminton court. Oliveira held out a sign asking Brazilian sitting volleyball player Edwarda de Oliveira Dias to marry him.
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 30: Rogerio Junior Xavier de Oliveira of Team Brazil holds a sign which translates to ‘Edwarda Will You Marry Me?’ whilst proposingduring the Men’s Singles SL4 Group Play Stage – Group D Match MSSL4107 on day two of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at Porte de La Chapelle Arena on August 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Italian runner Alessandro Ossola also had a similar idea. After being eliminated, Ossola ran to the stands, dropped down to one knee and asked the big question to his girlfriend, Arianna. His first wife died in a 2015 motorcycle accident, from which Ossola also lost most of his leg.
Alessandro Ossola of Italy proposes to his girlfriend after the men’s 100m T63 round 1 match of para athletics at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France, Sept. 1, 2024. (Photo by Zhang Cheng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
More than 4,000 athletes competed in 549 medal events across 22 sports during the Paralympic Games, which end Sunday with the closing ceremony. The 2028 Paralympic Summer Games will take place in Los Angeles.