Roderick Townsend shows he’s still got it at 32 with Paralympic gold

SAINT-DENIS, France — Roderick Townsend came into his third Paralympic Games having already won back-to-back golds in the high jump in Tokyo and Rio.

Sunday he completed the three-peat.

The current world-record holder in the event added to his medal collection by clearing a season-best 6 feet, 11 1/2 inches. Townsend, 32, said he was nervous going into the competition not just because he had an underwhelming trials by his standards, but because of his respect for the competition in his group.

He pointed to runner-up Nishad Kumar in particular as someone whom he relishes competing against.

“I know how bad he wants it,” Townsend said of Kumar. “He knows how bad I want it. I know what that feels like when I lost the long jump in Tokyo. I know that feeling. He’s a young guy and he has a lot of energy and a lot of potential. I know Nishad is going to continue to do great things.

“I just want him to have as many silver medals as possible,” the always-playful Townsend added.

Jaleen Roberts also picked up a medal, capturing silver in the T37 women’s long jump. Both athletes reflected on the difference it made to have fans in the stands after a rather quiet Games in Tokyo.

“It’s kind of like my first Games all over again,” Roberts said of having fans back in the stands. “I think it’s just that same excitement amplified especially with a French athlete in my class. The crowd went crazy and so I just fed off that energy and the little bit of pressure that comes with it.”

Roberts’ jump of 15 feet, 7 3/4 inches was good enough for second place, but she said she feels there could have been corrections in her form that, if she can make, will make her a strong contender for gold in Los Angeles in 2028.

It was a busy night for the U.S. team as two other athletes found their way to the podium. Coming off his gold medal victory in the 5000 meters, Daniel Romanchuk claimed another medal − this time bronze − finishing the T54 400m in 45.11 seconds. After a collision knocked Brian Siemann out of medal contention in Saturday’s 5000, he was able to come back and make a podium with a third-place finish in the T53 men’s 400.

Up next for Hunter Woodhall

Hunter Woodhall advanced to the men's 100m T64 final with a third-place finish in his heat at 11.02 seconds and will be back Monday to compete for the gold.

Woodhall said he was pleased with advancing, but wanted to focus on recalibrating his technique.

“I think those first few steps were really great and then I got a little excited,” he said. “But we’ll clean it up in the finals, you will see tomorrow.”

Ezra Frech and Desmond Jackson also qualified for Monday’s final in the T63 men’s 100m with third and fourth place finishes respectively.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Roderick Townsend shows he’s still got it at 32 with Paralympic gold