Paralympic legend and Redcliffe’s very own Brenden Hall has secured the country’s first medal at the Paralympic Games. An hour past midnight on Friday, Hall claimed bronze in the men’s S9 400m freestyle at the La Defense Arena.
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Brenden Hall clinches bronze, prepares for two more
With a time of 4:15.61, Hall finished 3.06 seconds behind the gold medalist, French swimmer Ugo Didier, who made a strong final lap push. Italian Simone Barlaam took silver in the event.
The bronze medal marks Hall’s seventh Paralympic podium. The achievement holds significant personal meaning for Hall, who missed the podium at the Tokyo Games.
“I was after a little bit of redemption,” Hall says. “I didn’t care what colour it was and so to be able to do it in front of people who mean the most to me, that’s what made me feel it the most.”
Hall’s achievement is particularly noteworthy given his role as Australia’s flag bearer in the opening ceremony—less than twelve hours before his heats in the 400m.
The seasoned Paralympian has two more upcoming events: the S9 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly. These Games are expected to be his last, as Hall hints at retiring from competitive swimming.
The rest of his busy schedule is as follows:
100m Backstroke S9 Heats: 3 September, 5:38 p.m.
Final: 4 September, 1:37 a.m.
100m Butterfly S9 Heats: 6 September, 6:18 p.m.
Final: 7 September, 2:35 a.m.
Hall reflects on his long journey
In an interview with body+soul, Hall acknowledges that his experience in Tokyo, where he narrowly missed a medal, reshaped his approach to the sport.
“It took me a little bit to sort of reflect and learn from it,” Hall says. “I forgot that the reason I was doing it was because I had a lot of fun.”
This shift in perspective has influenced his performance in Paris, where Hall prioritises enjoyment and personal fulfilment over the pressure of achieving specific outcomes.
“Don’t be afraid to fail and then lean into it and learn from it. Humans fail, it’s a part of human nature.”
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As Hall continues his Paralympic campaign, he remains focused on the upcoming events while cherishing the support of his family. His son, Bodhi, is expected to be in the stands.
“It’s not about what you do to fail, it’s about how you get back up, dust yourself off, you learn from it and then you move onto the next thing.”
Published 02-September-2024