The Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil came to an end on Sunday (September 18) with gold medals for China, Iran and Australia as the closing ceremony briefly broke the carnival atmosphere to hold a tribute to Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad, who died on Saturday (September 17) after a fall in his race.
The Maracana saw the Paralympic flag handed from Rio mayor Edward Paes to Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, where the next games will be held in 2020.
Earlier, in a dramatic women’s T54 marathon, China’s Zou Lihong pipped American Tatyana McFadden over the finish line in a photo finish to win gold in one hour 38 minutes and 44 seconds.
After a minute’s silence to honour the life of Golbarnezhad, the Iranian men’s sitting volleyball tournament defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final.
The Iranians have dominated the event reaching the last eight finals and winning six golds in the process.
Egypt beat the United States in a close match for the bronze medal.
Meanwhile the wheelchair rugby gold went to Australia, who beat the United States in the gold medal match thanks to Ryley Batt scoring the winning try.
Japan won bronze in their game against Canada.
China topped the medal table at the games with 107 gold medals from a total of 239 overall, ahead of Britain in second place with 64 golds from 147 medals. Ukraine pipped the United States for third position in the table.
A total of 83 countries won a medal at the games.
