Netherlands win Paralympic gold in thrilling wheelchair basketball final | Media Centre

Netherlands' Bo Kramer shoots as USA's Ixhelt Gonzalez defends during the women's wheelchair basketball gold medal match between the Netherlands and the United States at the 2024 Paralympics. Image provided by PA / Alamy.

In a thrilling final at Bercy Arena, Loughborough Lightning playmaker Kramer topped the table with 23 points as the Dutch defeated their American opponents 63-49.

After an incredibly close first half, the 25-year-old came to life in the third quarter as the Dutch began to assert their superiority after overcoming an early 8-1 deficit.

Kramer pulled the strings on the court, was a constant threat and showed spectators from all over the world why she is one of the highest-rated players on the tour.

The Netherlands were able to pull further ahead in the last quarter and achieved the goal they had already achieved at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo with an impressive victory.

“It was a bumpy start and we had a few problems getting the ball into the net in the first few minutes,” said Kramer.

“But before the game we decided as a team what we would do in attack and defense and if we did that we believed we could win.

“We were very nervous in the first few minutes – I was very nervous, for example – but we played our game and didn't change anything because of America. Then you see that it slowly works, they miss a few shots and at halftime we said we have to keep fighting for 40 minutes.”

“We took a lead in the third quarter and now I'm wearing a gold medal around my neck for the second year in a row.”

It was a flawless season for Kramer and her impressive teammates, who remained unbeaten throughout the group stage and into the knockout rounds.

Kramer's gold crowned a wonderful Paralympic Games for Loughborough, which finished the competition with 19 medals – six gold, seven silver and six bronze.

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Notes for editors

Press release no.: 24/159