Texas sprinter Korban Best secured a silver medal in his Paralympic debut, setting a personal best time of 10.75 seconds in the T47 100-metre dash at the Stade de France on Friday evening.
The 21-year-old, known for his infectious energy and playful personality, showcased his impressive speed on the track. Best's journey to the Paralympics began at a young age. Born with ulnar dysplasia in his right arm, he discovered a passion for running and quickly realised he possessed a natural talent. His dedication and hard work have propelled him to the forefront of the U.S. Paralympic track and field team.
His teammates affectionately nicknamed him "Baby Bro" due to his small stature, quickness, and penchant for dancing before races. Best's vibrant personality has become a source of energy and good humour within the team.
"I'm everyone's little bro," Best quipped. "I'm the annoying little brother, always poking fun, making jokes, dancing when I'm not supposed to or giving the coach a hard time. But that's just me being lighthearted and fun, bringing the energy to practice every day."
Best's performance in the final was a testament to his steady progress. He tied his personal best in the preliminary heat with a time of 10.78 seconds before launching off to a strong start in the final, leading the pack momentarily before Brazil's Petrucio Ferreira dos Santos clinched the gold with a winning time of 10.68 seconds.
"I feel great," Best said after the race. "Stepping onto the world stage and making an impact like I did for my first year in Para was absolutely incredible. I wanted gold, but silver is the next best thing, and we'll be back in LA to win at home."
Despite the silver medal, Best acknowledges the importance of teamwork in his success. He credits the support he received from his training centre in Chula Vista, California.
"The people at Chula Vista, the athletes and the staff have welcomed me with open arms," Best said. "They've shown me the ropes and guided me throughout this whole process. I definitely couldn't have done it alone without their incredible support."
On the women's side, Jaleen Roberts narrowly missed out on a medal in the T37 200-metre race. She recorded a season-best time of 27.99 seconds but finished fourth, a mere four-tenths of a second behind the bronze medalist, Fenfen Jiang. China's Xiaoyan Wen took the gold with a time of 25.86 seconds.
"Even though I didn't medal, it was still a great boost for my confidence," Roberts said. "I didn't expect to do as well as I did, so I can't complain. It feels good to be back in a Paralympic stadium and to have overcome my nerves."
Taylor Swanson, who also competed in the race, suffered a disappointing finish, tripping just before the finish line. Despite the setback, she was met with applause from the crowd.
Best's silver medal and Roberts' near-miss demonstrate the dedication and talent of the U.S. Paralympic team, showcasing their determination to excel on the global stage.
