Gia Pergolini Wins First U.S. Gold at Paralympics

Gia Pergolini won Team USA's first gold medal at the Paris Paralympics in the women's 100m backstroke S13, clocking a time of 1:04.93, just 0.3 seconds off her world record from Tokyo 2020. Now a 20-year-old student at Florida International University, Pergolini expressed her joy and disbelief at the achievement, citing the support of the enthusiastic crowd and her mother's presence as significant motivators. She reflected on her growth and maturity since her first Paralympics, noting the mental challenges she overcame. Pergolini and her teammate Grace Nuhfer kept the pre-race atmosphere light-hearted with singing and dancing, which helped ease the tension. Ireland’s Roisin Ni Riain and Italy’s Carlotta Gilli took silver and bronze respectively, while Nuhfer finished eighth.