Tokyo Paralympics: The 10 most memorable stories of heroism, heartbreak, and humanity

Jason Smyth celebrates after winning gold. Picture: INPHO/Tommy Dickson

And there it ended, at least for another three years – a complex and complicated Paralympics finally in the books. It was a Games that, much like the five-ringed circus that preceded it, found a way to forge ahead amid great difficulty, serving up a two-week festival of sport that proved a wonderful feast of sporting escapism. 

There was the typical blend of heartbreak and heroism, a slew of stories that made all those who gave it their time feel that bit better about humanity. These are the 10 things we’ll remember most.