De Jong breaks world record and wins Paralympic gold in Paris

Joël de Jong has won the Paralympic long jump title at the Games in Paris. He triumphed with a new world record of 7.68 meters. Noah Mbuyamba secured bronze for the Dutch (7.01 m).

De Jong wears a prosthetic leg after being diagnosed with bone cancer. The full stadium gave him a lot of strength. "It gives a golden edge. I don't really realize it yet. The first jump was invalid, and that made me a bit stressed. But that audience, that clapping, that gave me so much energy. I saw my family sitting there, my coach, my prosthetist. The stadium is almost full. Fantastic," de Jong told NOS.

On Sunday, track and field athlete Fleur Jong extended her long jump title at the Paralympic Games. The 28-year-old from Noord-Holland achieved a distance of 6.53 meters in her best jump at the Stade de France near Paris. This significantly improved the Paralympic record in the T62 class, with which she won gold at the Games in Tokyo three years ago.

Due to a bacterial infection, Jong had to have her lower legs and part of the tips of her toes amputated. She will also compete in the 100-meter sprint.

Furthermore, silver went to Tilburg-born Marlène van Gansewinkel, who achieved a distance of 5.87 meters in her final jump. The American B. Hatz (third) only just prevented a podium finish for debutant Kiki Hendriks.