Tue Sep 03 21:47:30 UTC 2024: – Ongiou Timeon from Kiribati made his debut as the country’s first-ever Paralympian in the men’s shot put F11 final in Paris.
– Timeon had a rocky start with his first attempt disqualified but settled his nerves and had a best throw of 6.46m.
– Despite placing eighth, Timeon called the experience a huge learning curve and expressed his desire to continue training for future Paralympic Games.
– He encouraged youngsters with disabilities from Pacific island countries to get involved in sports and focus on their abilities.
– Australia supported 13 Pacific islanders, including Timeon, to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, marking the largest-ever Pacific delegation.
– Timeon was stranded in Fiji for nine months during the pandemic, and Kiribati faces challenges due to global warming, including rising sea levels.

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