The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Athlete David Emong gave Uganda her first ever Paralympics medal, winning silver in Friday’s 1500m – T46 final in Rio. (see video bottom)
Emong, 26, who was Uganda’s only athlete at the competition, clocked 4:00.62 to come second behind Samir Nouioua of Algeria who won in 3:59.46. Australia’s Michael Roeger was third in 4:01.34.
Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, and are held soon after the Summer Olympics. These are the 15th Paralympic Games.
The T46 disability sport classification is a group for track and field athletes missing their arm from near the top of their arm. Similar disability sport classification groups are T40, T42, T43, T44, T45.
Congratulations to Uganda’s David Emong for winning a Silver medal in the 1500m T46 at the Rio Paralympic Games. pic.twitter.com/AYABsDzfgT
— NCS Uganda (@NCSUganda1) September 17, 2016
Emong had earlier on Friday competed in the 400m – T47 race but could only manage 5th place in the heats, and failed to make it to the final. T47 is a classification for track events for competitors with a below elbow or wrist amputation.
The medal is Uganda’s first Paralympic medal since debuting at Heidelberg 1972. Emong also competed in London 2012, missing a medal when he finished 4th.
The much bigger Ugandan contingent participated in the Summer Olympics where they returned with no medal.
