Paralympic Updates: Aoki, Team USA Take Third Consecutive Silver at Paris Games
9/2/2024 5:51:00 PM | Olympics
• Paris Olympics/Paralympics Site | MGoBlue Olympics/Paralympics Coverage
Monday, September 2
Japan 48, USA 41
PARIS, France -- The University of Michigan's Chuck Aoki and the United States' wheelchair rugby team claimed silver at the 2024 Paralympic Games on Monday (Sept. 2) at Champ-de-Mars Arena. Team USA led for much of the first half but could not keep pace in the second in a 48-41 loss to Japan in the gold-medal final.
The USA led by as much as four points in the first quarter and held an advantage through much of the opening half before Japan took its first lead with 1:08 remaining in the second quarter and took to a narrow 24-23 edge into halftime.
The Americans were doomed by turnovers in the second half, committing seven to Japan's one in the half. Team USA tied the score several times early in the third quarter, including at 29-29 with 4:59 left, but never again led the contest. Japan carried a three-point lead into the fourth then outscored USA, 13-11, in the final quarter.
Team USA went 3-2 at the Paralympics, also falling to Japan, 45-42, in earlier group play.
Chuck Aoki, who currently serves as community access navigator in Michigan's Adaptive Sports & Fitness program, led the USA with 106 tries over five games at the Paralympics. He posted 14 tries in the gold-medal match, sharing the team lead with Sarah Adam, who made history as the first woman to play for the U.S. wheelchair rugby at the Paralympics, and posted USA's lone steal in the first quarter.
The United States have claimed silver in each of the last three Paralympic Games. With his fourth overall medal -- three silvers and one bronze -- Aoki is tied with Australia's Ryley Batt, who claimed bronze in Paris, for the most Paralympic medals in the history of wheelchair rugby.
• Results and Video (NBC Olympics)
• Chuck Aoki: 14 tries, 1 steal
