In the next-to last race of the opening day of pool action, Bocciardo netted a Paralympic record win after his compatriot Gilli kicked things off by taking the women's 100m butterfly S13. In a comeback opening day of sorts, Italy made up for its poor start to the proceedings by clinching eight medals overall. 

Bocciardo, 30, who has a condition which impacts movement in his legs, powered to a Paralympic record in the men's 200m freestyle S5 and knew who to thank immediately after. "Carlotta has inspired me. She gave me the power to say I want to win, like she has done before me," Bocciardo explained. 

“It's important for us, for our federation, to always be at the top. It will help other people, and put publicity focused on Paralympic sport. Only with communication is it possible to spread the right message and reach children with disabilities who don’t practise sport for the moment." Just moments later, Monica Boggioni completed Italy's impressive display in the women’s 200m freestyle S5 by securing bronze in the day’s final race.

The loudest cheer, however, had already been taken in by local favourite Didier, who edged Italian world champion Simone Barlaam in the 400m freestyle S9. "It was unbelievable, the cheering for me helped me a lot. I don't think I could have done it without the crowd," an emotional Didier said after reliving a similar heartwarming scene to the ones fellow Frenchman Léon Marchand bathed in during the Olympics four weeks ago. "I think I will never swim with that type of crowd again. These are happy tears. It's been hard and now it's over. The pressure is off," the para athlete stressed.

Brazilian Gabrielzinho, meanwhile, also delivered a spectacular performance in the men's 100m backstroke S2 as he claimed the gold medal. The 22-year-old, who has no arms or hands and atrophied legs, celebrated his third Paralympic win by blowing a puff of water from his mouth and became an instant crowd favourite.

Formally known as Gabriel dos Santos Araujo, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist turned that medal into gold in Paris and still has four other chances for a medal in the French capital, including defending his 50m backstroke S2 title on Saturday. "This was the most difficult of my races in Paris," he said. "So to win gold is great and now I'm focused on the other events," he explained.

Gabrielzinho discovered competitive swimming at the age of 13, in 2015, during a school competition. "A teacher signed him up without asking me, and he won five medals. He hasn't stopped since," his mother revealed before the Paralympics. The Tokyo 2020 runner-up was just 19 at the time but demonstrated extraordinary mental strength after receiving the devastating news of his grandfather's death just days before the Asian event.

He began his medal haul with a silver, finishing second in the 100m backstroke S2 (the category for swimmers with the most severe disabilities). Interestingly, his grandfather was nicknamed 'Pratinha' (little silver). He then climbed to the top of the podium twice at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, in the 50m and 200m freestyle S2 events, and each time performed a trademark celebratory dance.

Another Thursday highlight was Britain's Poppy Maskill taking a world record in the women's 100m butterfly S14. China's Yi Chen also claimed a world record, as she won the women's 50m freestyle S10. Only China managed as many swimming golds as Italy on the opening day as Yuyan Jian took the women's 50m freestyle S6.

Ihar Boki claimed the Neutral Paralympic Athletes' team's first gold medal of the Games as he pipped home favourite Alex Portal in the 100m butterfly S13. Belarussian Boki, who is visually impaired, is the world and Paralympic record holder and added a 17th Paralympic gold medal to his career haul, after making his debut in London 12 years ago.