2024 Paris Paralympic Games Moreton Bay coverage: Hall Patterson going for gold

(File photo: Brenden Hall)

Brenden Hall and Lakeisha Patterson have started strongly at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games and are through to the finals of their pet events.

Both competed in the 400m freestyle S9 heats this afternoon.

Hall, who was one of two Australian flag bearers the night before, qualified second-fastest with a time of 4:19.49. He was just behind fellow Aussie Timothy Hodge on 4:19.31. Brenden will race in lane 5 in the final at 1.30am tomorrow.

Patterson won her heat comfortably and qualified fastest with a time of 4:48.74. She led the field from the first 50m and looked relaxed, yet dominant. She will race in lane 4 in the final tomorrow at 1.40am.

Hall, still sporting a moustache he grew for the opening ceremony and the first heat, says it will be shaved off for the final.

He told Channel 9 he was able to use a powered wheelchair for part of the ceremony to conserve energy and enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“I had a lot of fun and was able to soak a lot in and hopefully can use that this week,” he said.

The 31-year-old, who grew up in Petrie, went to Pine Rivers State High School and swam at Redcliffe, Lawnton and Burpengary, is not thinking too much about the significance of competing at his fifth, and possibly last Paralympic Games.

“It won’t sink in until I’m done,” he said.

Nerves don't show

Patterson told Channel 9 she was nervous before today’s heats, particularly with crowds at these Games. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games there were no crowds due to COVID-19.

She said she was grateful to have members of her family there to support her this time around.

“The nerves are always there and it’s certainly exciting,” she said.

“That (race) felt pretty comfortable. I just wanted to get out, get the first swim done and get more in the tank tonight,”

She will be going for a ‘three-peat’ in the final tomorrow.

“I don’t really try to think about the outcome too much. I’m trying to focus on my process. Obviously another gold medal would be incredible but at the end of the day that medal doesn’t define me ... who I am as a person or my success as an athlete,” Patterson said.

“I’m just trying to come in here, have fun, race for my country and do myself and everyone else proud. I’m excited to see what I can do.”

Caboolture-based Patterson trained at Southern Cross, Lawnton and Burpengary, and is now with the Paralympic hub at UniSC.