Vladimir Sviridov, a Russian track and field athlete, captured the gold medal in shot put at the 2024 Summer Paralympics. The victory came with a record-breaking performance that surpassed the existing world mark. In a display of precision and power, Sviridov launched the shot to a distance that eclipsed the former world record, elevating the event to new heights for athletes in the F36 class, which is designated for individuals with coordination impairments. This achievement placed him at the pinnacle of the competition and earned him a place in Paralympic history as a benchmark for future contenders.
In the same event, another Russian competitor, Alan Kokoity, delivered a strong performance that earned the silver medal with a best mark of 16.27 meters. A third strong showing from the region came from Dastan Mukashbekov of Kazakhstan, who claimed bronze with a best effort of 16.00 meters. The F36 class, known for its unique combination of balance, control, and upper-body strength, often produces dramatic lead changes and close finishes, highlighting the depth of talent present at Paris 2024 and the intense competition among athletes from the region and beyond.
The results contributed to a broader medal haul for Russian athletes at the Paris Games, where the nation secured a total of 13 golds, 17 silvers, and 17 bronzes across the Paralympic competition. In Paris, a total of 88 Russian Paralympians represented their country, showcasing resilience and dedication despite the broader political and sports governance context surrounding the team. The performances underscored a persistent level of high performance in Paralympic sport, with many athletes delivering career-best marks on the world stage and adding to a growing legacy within their respective disciplines.
On March 6, the International Paralympic Committee announced eligibility criteria that would allow Russian Paralympic athletes to compete under a neutral flag at the Games. According to the IPC, athletes under this neutral status would be permitted to participate, but they would not be allowed to attend the opening or closing ceremonies, and medals won by neutrally registered competitors would not be counted toward the official team standings. The policy aimed to balance participation with the symbolic and organizational considerations that continue to shape international Paralympic competition, reflecting ongoing debates about national representation in global sport and the evolving governance landscape that affects athletes from Russia and other regions facing similar restrictions. This decision added a nuanced layer to the Paris experience for Paralympians, coaches, and national committees as they prepared for each event and navigated the competition within a neutral framework.
Earlier in the Games, Valeria Shabalina, a Russian swimmer, claimed a second gold medal at the 2024 Paralympics, further contributing to the overall medal tally and highlighting the breadth of Russian excellence across swimming disciplines. Shabalina’s success complemented the story of Sviridov and his teammates, illustrating how Paralympic programs maintain momentum across multiple sports even amid complex international participation rules. The Paris Games thus served as a stage where athletes from the Russian program demonstrated sustained depth, versatility, and competitive spirit across track, field, and pool events, while observers noted the evolving nature of eligibility rules and their impact on team composition and medal opportunities.