Paris Paralympics: UAE’s Othman misses out on 100m T34 wheelchair medal

The UAE’s Mohammed Othman missed out on a medal in the men’s T34 100m wheelchair final at the 2024 Paris Paralympics on Monday, finishing fifth.
The youngest member in the UAE’s 14-member squad at just 20 years of age, Othman clocked 15.77 seconds to finish fourth in Heat 1 on Sunday. He had to wait for results from second heat before securing his passage into Monday’s final.
In the final, Thailand’s Chaiwat Rattana took the gold medal with a new Paralympic record time of 14.76.
Tunisia’s multiple Paralympic medal winner and the 100m world record holder Walid Ktila secured the silver medal in a time of 15.14 with Austin Smeenk of Canada bagging bronze with a time of 15.19.
Rheed McCracken finished fourth ahead of Othman and Qatar’s Radi Ali Arshid with Henry Manni of Finland and China’s Wenhao Gong.
Elsewhere, Refugee Paralympic Team triathlete Ibrahim Al Hussein said he had come to “give a message of hope” after taking part in his third Paralympic Games.
Born in Syria, Al Hussein fled the civil war in his homeland, first seeking refuge in Turkey before settling in Greece in 2014.
But prior to fleeing Syria, the future Paralympian was injured during the war and lost his right foot as well as the joint of his left foot in 2012.
“I came to give a message to everyone, a message of hope,” said Al Hussein after completing his race at the Paris Paralympics.
“Everyone, from where we are in the world, is going through a difficult time. Everyone can reach their destination.
“With serious work, with hard work, everyone can achieve their goal. It’s not just the athletes. Everyone can achieve their goal.”
Al Hussein overcame the hardships of war, injury and displacement to participate in para-swimming at Rio 2016 and then at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
Now in his third Paralympics, the 35 year old competed in the triathlon, finishing sixth in the men’s PTS3 race – the category for athletes with significant disabilities.
“I am very happy. It was a very good result for me. It was my goal to be in the top six,” said Al Hussein after recording a time of 1hr, 12mins and 34secs.
“I want to thank the International Paralympic Committee for giving me this opportunity,” he added.
“And I want to thank the UN Refugee Agency for believing in me.”