The smiles say it all.
Dunedin duo Holly Robinson and Anna Grimaldi are bringing home the bronze after winning medals in their opening events at the Paris Paralympics.
Robinson won bronze in the F46 shot put last night, while Grimaldi earlier won bronze in the T47 100m.
It is Robinson’s first Paralympic shot put medal, after the event returned to her classification about 18 months ago.
Noelle Malkamaki, of the United States, set a world record with 14.06m to win gold and Mariya Shpatkivska, of Ukraine, won silver with a personal best of 12.35m.
Robinson, who won back-to-back shot put silvers at the world para athletics championships, has a chance at double success in Paris when she tries to defend her javelin title on Saturday.
"I’m really proud - can’t believe it," Grimaldi said.
Ecuador’s Kiara Rodriguez won gold in 12.04sec and Brittini Mason, of the US, won silver in 12.10sec.
It is Grimaldi’s first Paralympic track medal, after winning back-to-back bronze medals at the world championships in 2023 and earlier this year.
"I would’ve loved another 20m or something because I think I would’ve been able to get another person back.
"I’m really proud, proud of that race.
"The 100 metres is a race I still feel like I’m finding my feet."
The atmosphere at State de France stadium was like nothing else, she said.
Grimaldi will compete in the long jump tomorrow night and finishes her campaign with the 200m, starting with the heats on Saturday.
Another silver for Aitchison
The 23-year-old recorded a time of 13.43 seconds to finish behind Yiting Shi of China in the women's 100m T36.
It was the same finishing order as the 200m earlier in the programme.
"I just wanted to go out there and have fun no matter the outcome," Aitchison said afterwards.
"I wasn't particularly happy with the 200. Out there I loved the challenge with Yiting Shi next to me, pushing each other along. I'm really happy with how the race went.
"It is so special to have my family in the crowd. It is so different from Tokyo. It is so great to have them come over to Paris and celebrate with me and enjoy the experience.
"I'm really excited to get back into training in a couple of months, I know I can push myself and get that gold medal in LA."
Aitchison went one better than at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games where she won bronze in the same event.
At this years Para Athletics World Championships she claimed a silver medal in 13.48 seconds, finishing 0.13 behind Yiting Shi who set a world record.
Aitchison was born with cerebral palsy and has a hearing impairment.
New Zealand has seven medals, four silver and three bronze.
- Additional reporting from RNZ
