Ezra Frech and Jaydin Blackwell Soar and Stride, Respectively, To Gold Medals

PARIS – America’s youngest and most exciting Para track and field stars, Ezra Frech and Jaydin Blackwell, thrilled with scintillating performances, both winning their second gold medals of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Youth was served on a record-breaking evening at Stade de France. Frech, 19, leaped to a Paralympics high jump T63 record of 1.94m/6ft 4 ½ in. to win gold, while Blackwell, 20, dominated the 400-meter T38 equaling his own world record of 48.49 seconds also attaining gold.

Frech adds high jump gold to his surprising gold medal in the 100-meter T63 from the previous night. Two-for-two for the ‘California Kid.’

“I’ve actually sacrificed and dedicated literally everything in my entire life to this – I’ve been writing down every morning that ‘I’m the Paralympic champion’ and writing it down at night, and speaking it out loud and into the mirror,” Frech revealed. 

“I’ve brought the journal with me – I have hundreds and hundreds of pages of the same sentence over and over and over again, just convincing myself for this.” 

Frech addressed the amazing atmosphere and unwavering support that he received on a dream-fulfilling night.

“The stadium was electric and winning this gold in front of my family and friends meant so much to me – I had 60-plus people coming out here for me and I didn’t want to give them a bad experience,” Frech said about the large contingent, many from California.

“It was honestly really difficult to come from such a high of winning the 100 and then trying to forget that – I was struggling to sleep last night,” he revealed. “People kept messaging me, luckily at about 2 p.m I was able to forget that I won the 100m and was able to focus and get the job done tonight.”

The opening to ABC’s Wide World of Sports long-running anthology show was renowned for its timeless words “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” 

Perhaps this was never more evident than in the men’s high jump T63, which was billed as a friendly showdown between the 2023 world champion and world record holder Frech, and the defending Paralympic gold medalist and three-time world champion, Sam Grewe. 

Grewe helped inspire Frech to take up Para track and field, and the former has continued to serve as a mentor even as the latter has quickly risen to the upper echelon of the sport.

Frech fulfilled his biggest dreams evoking the highest highs with an inspiring victory, while Grewe crashed out of the competition early and unexpectedly with three failed attempts at 1.77m/5-9 ½. 

“I just don’t know – timing was an issue, the speed of the track took me by surprise. I expected myself to make the adjustments considering my experience,” Grewe said, asked what went wrong.

“To get this outcome is obviously very disappointing because I know how much I’ve sacrificed, especially being in medical school with the hoops that I’ve jumped through. It’s confusing and I’m not sure what went wrong.”

The 25-year-old from Michigan was visibly distraught after the performance and consoled by his fiancée, Mady, and family members. 

Grewe shared a moment with Frech, shortly after being eliminated.

“He’s been like a little brother to me and I feel like I’ve been a mentor of his,” Grewe noted. “I was reassuring him – I told him I have to go be with family, but I had the confidence that he would get it done.”

Frech spoke about how difficult Grewe’s unfortunate mishap was for him, as he struggled to recover himself.

“Honestly, that was really tough – I love Sam like an older brother,” Frech said. “I was really feeling sorry for him because I’ve been in that position. I feel gutted for him.

“I was letting him know that I am here because of him and I’m going to finish the job, I’m going to win it tonight,” he said. “It was tough to refocus, because I felt so bad. It was something I was battling with.”

With Grewe out, Frech would engage in a hotly-contested battle with a talented trio of jumpers from India. 

Coached by three-time Paralympic high jump champion Roderick Townsend, Frech quickly found his groove. He took command with a brilliant, statement-sending clearance of 1.88m/6ft-2in., while establishing a new Paralympic record.

His rivals from India would dwindle from three to one, with only Sharad Kumar still alive with a chance to prevent Frech from winning gold. 

Frech delivered a knock-out blow with a successful clearance of 1.91m/6ft-3in. It forced Kumar to pass to the next height. 

But Frech only got better, and higher, flying over 1.94m/6ft 4 ½ in. Following two misses by Kumar at that height, the gold medal belonged to Frech.

Frech raised the bar at 1.98m/6ft. 6in. for three stabs at breaking his own world record of 1.97m/6ft 5 ½ in. 

His first attempt was so close, the crossbar teetering as Frech landed in the pits. It finally fell to the ground. It wasn’t to be, following respectable, but unsuccessful efforts on his final two tries. Ultimately, it was inconsequential.

Frech has been counting down the days to winning gold in the high jump, from 100 until now, Sept. 4.

“I am definitely happy to have completed the countdown,” Frech said, with a big smile.

The young, multi-talented Paralympian is extremely motivated to be an ambassador and continue to change perceptions about disabilities. He said that the Paris 2024 Paralympics have been a game-changer.

“The Paralympics was trending on Threads and I’ve never seen that before – the energy, momentum, and understanding around the Paralympics in the U.S. has skyrocketed because of these Games – it’s not over yet, but it’s on a new level.”

The 400m race was never in doubt as Blackwell led from start to finish. The 20-year-old showman increased his lead around every corner and down the homestretch.

Blackwell’s triumphant performance and world record equaling time of 48.49 seconds was a staggering 1.25 seconds faster than his teammates Ryan Medrano, who took silver, while posting a personal best of 49.74 seconds.

"I could've broken the world record because I was looking at the clock, giving it a few glances, and that probably slowed me down a little bit,” Blackwell said. “But I still tied it, so I'm happy about that and everything.

For Blackwell, who likes to consider himself the "Noah Lyles of Adaptive Track & Field," it was his second gold medal in Paris, following victory in the 100m.

"I'm glad, appreciative and really excited that I've been able to do this twice in a row now,” Blackwell said. “I'm really happy that I've got the abilities to do what I need to do on that track and get two golds."

For Blackwell’s friend and teammate, Medrano, it was his second silver medal of these Games, having also finished runner-up to the wunderkind athlete in the 100m, three nights previous.

“My coach just told me to run my race and finish strong,” Medrano said. “That’s what I did. I had some extra motivation from the Colombian coming up behind me in that last 30m. Oh, my goodness.

"I just pushed a bit harder. That’s what gave me that little bit I needed,” said the 27-year-old from El Paso, Texas.

Medrano edged Campas Sanchex of Colombia for silver by 0.16 seconds.