For those of you who missed it, Blake’s bronze medal winning race can be viewed here.
It was an eventful Paralympic Games for Blake. His event started on Friday, September 6, 2024. Blake’s event, the Men’s Va’a Single VL2 Paracanoe, started with two heats. The first heat had 6 competitors in it while the second had 5 competitors. In the initial heats, only the winner from each heat advances to the final. The rest of the competitors must race in the semi-finals for a place in the final and a chance to win a medal.
Blake finished second in his opening heat, meaning he had to race the semi-final. The semi-finals were also broken into two heats, one with 5 competitors and the other with 4 competitors. In the semi-finals, the top three from each heat advance to the final.
Blake’s semi-final took place on Sunday, September 8, 2024, about an hour before the final. Blake easily advanced to the final, winning his semi-final race with a Paralympic world record time of 52.69 (Blake’s record stood for only an hour as the gold medal winner, Rufino de Paulo Fernando, set a new world record in the final).
The final featured 8 competitors. The race was fiercely contested with a photo finish for second at the end. Ultimately, Blake won a bronze medal, finishing just 0.03 seconds behind the silver medal winner.
Check out the link above to watch the race and Blake’s interview shortly afterward.
Blake Haxton 