PARIS − Korban Best, a 21-year-old sprinter from Southlake, Texas, made a remarkable entry into the Paralympics at the Stade de France on Friday night. In his first event, he achieved a personal best of 10.75 seconds in the T47 100-meter dash.

Best displayed both his incredible speed and vibrant personality on the track, earning a silver medal in the process.

His journey to achieving Paralympic success has been extensive. Born with a condition known as ulnar dysplasia in his right arm, Best found his love for running early on and quickly recognized his natural talent. Through hard work and commitment, he has emerged as a rising star for the U.S. Paralympics track and field team.

Known for his pre-race dances, his quirky character, and his energetic spirit, Best has affectionately been dubbed ‘Baby Bro’ by his teammates.

“I’m like everyone’s little brother,” Best shared. “I’m always teasing my teammates, cracking jokes, dancing when I shouldn’t be, or playfully bothering the coach. It’s just my way of keeping things upbeat and adding energy to our practice every day.”

Best continued to improve as the day progressed. He matched his personal best in the preliminary round with a time of 10.78 seconds.

During the final, he had a fantastic start, initially leading the race before Brazil’s Petrucio Ferreira dos Santos secured the win with a time of 10.68 seconds.

“I’m feeling great,” Best commented after the race. “Being on this world stage and making a mark in my first year competing in Para athletics is just incredible. Sure, I wanted the gold, but silver is a close second, and I plan to return in LA and take home the gold.”

Since joining Team USA, he has built strong friendships with his teammates, and his optimistic outlook and leadership have motivated others to pursue their best efforts.

While achieving a medal is a personal triumph for Best, he acknowledges the crucial role his team has played in his success.

“Everyone at Chula Vista, both athletes and staff, have welcomed me warmly,” said Best about his training center. “They’ve shown me the way and supported me through this entire journey. I truly believe I couldn’t have done it alone; my support team has been fantastic.”

Jaleen Roberts narrowly misses out on a medal

In women’s events, Jaleen Roberts recorded a season-best time of 27.99 seconds in the T37 200 meters but fell just short of winning a medal, finishing four-tenths of a second behind bronze medalist Fenfen Jiang, who clocked in at 27.55 seconds. The gold medal was clinched by China’s Xiaoyan Wen with a time of 25.86 seconds.

“Even though I didn’t medal, this performance has boosted my confidence,” Roberts reflected. “I exceeded my expectations, so I’m grateful—not greedy—just happy to be back in a Paralympic stadium where I could ease my nerves.”

Taylor Swanson also participated in the race but faced a tough moment as she stumbled just before reaching the finish line. She completed the race to the appreciation of the crowd.