Deluge of rain hits Paris with Paralympics event suspended due to thunderstorms

Rowing events at the Paralympic Games in Paris were suspended following a deluge of rain at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

The organizers decided to suspend the program, with the racing resuming at around 6.15 a.m. ET. The thunderstorm disrupted the first day of rowing racing at the Paralympic Games .

The PR2 mixed double sculls were the first event to resume action following the thunderstorm, with two qualifying places from each of the heats heading directly to the final. China and Israel were the first to qualify from the first heat before the reigning World Champions from Great Britain, Lauren Rowles and Gregg Stevenson, took heat 2 with a World Best time.

Rowles and Stevenson set a Paralympic Best Time and a new World Best Time for GB, breaking their own record, with a time of 7:56.92. Poland snatched the second-place spot away from host nation France.

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The PR3 events followed Team GB's record heat in the PR2, with Australian duo Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager confirming their place in the first-ever Paralympic Games final of the PR3 mixed double. They also set a new Paralympic Games Best Time of 7:11.30.

Germany then took the win in the second heat of the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls. The German duo weren't quite as fast as the Aussies from heat one - but it was an impressive enough performance to suggest it'll be a close final at the weekend.

Two more races will take place on Friday afternoon, with competitors competing in the PR3Mix4+. Germany, Spain, China, Italy, and Great Britain will compete in the first heat, followed by Brazil, Australia, France, Korea, and Team USA in the second.

Thus far, since the Paralympics began, Team USA has only managed three medals, all of which were silver, placing them 18th in the standings. Rivals China currently sits top, boasting five medals, including four golds, and one silver. Meanwhile, Team GB sits second with six medals - two golds, three silvers, and one bronze.

All of America's medals have come in swimming so far. Swimmers are divided into 14 classes. Grace Nuhfer in the Women's 100m butterfly S13, followed by Christie Raleigh Crossley in the Women's 50m freestyle S10, and Elizabeth Marks in the Women's 50m freestyle S6.

Those with physical impairments are classified from S1 to S10, with the lower the classification signifying the more severe the impairments for athletes. The classification is determined based on how an athlete moves in the water.