There is plenty more action to come in the French capital, which recently hosted the Olympics, ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paralympics on August 28.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about the British athletes, as well as other storylines, involving Valentina Petrillo and Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav.
Who are the main Team GB stars for Paralympics 2024?
Thomas Young – Para athletics
Croydon-born sprinter Thomas Young registered 100m T38 gold at Tokyo 2020, and he is hoping to defend that medal to make it back-to-back triumphs.
The 24-year-old three-time European champion, who was awarded an MBE two years ago, recently opened up about a tough 2023 season and insisted that he is firmly back to his best.
‘[It] was going unbelievably well and then I got injured from a fall during a race, which took me out of the Commonwealth Games, and really impacted my performances in Paris last year,’ Young told the Daily Mirror in May.
‘But now I have gone through the hard times and I have had a really good training block since October and I am feeling as strong as I ever have before.’
Claire Taggart – Boccia
Claire Taggart is eyeing up a gold medal in the boccia event for Team GB, which is a precision ball sport like bowls and pétanque.
The Northern Irishwoman clinched the World Championship title two years ago, and according to Boccia UK, she reigned in the world No.1 spot for the entirety of 2023, remarkably securing a medal at every single event she competed at.
‘To excel in boccia, you need the ability to think outside the box and to see past the obvious options and choices,’ Taggart said.
‘A forward-thinking mind is key – one eye on the shot you are playing and the other on the next shot possible.’
Iona Winnifrith – Swimming
Want to feel old? Team GB’s youngest swimmer at this year’s Paralympics is 13-years-old Iona Winnifrith – from Tonbridge Swimming Club in Kent – who was born on April 11, 2011!
The British teen is making her Paralympics debut after bursting onto the scene earlier this year, winning European titles in the SB7 100m Breaststroke and SM7 200m Individual Medley.
Funmi Oduwaiye – Para athletics
Cardiff-born Funmi Oduwaiye represented Wales in international basketball at junior level before she became a Para athlete in shot put and discus.
At the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships, the Team GB star finished fourth in the shot put and sixth in the discus. She’s now aiming for a Paralympic medal.
Who else is competing for Team GB?
The list does not stop there. There are plenty of other Team GB stars at the 2024 Paralympic Games to keep an eye on.
- Matt Bush – Taekwondo
- Hollie Arnold – Para athletics
- Rachel Choong – Badminton
- Hannah Cockroft – Para athletics
- David Smith – Boccia
- Oliver Lam-Watson – Wheelchair fencing
- Liam McGarry – Para powerlifting
- Jodie Grinham – Archery
What are the other main storylines at the Paris Paralympics?
First transgender Paralympian addresses criticism
Italy made history by selecting Valentina Petrillo for Paris 2024, who will become the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the Paralympics.
Petrillo is legally recognised as a woman, and is eligible to compete under World Para Athletics’ rules after she had a gender transitioning process five years ago.
She will compete in the women’s T12 200m and 400m races with the visually impaired sprinter looking to clinch a medal after her bronze at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2023.
She recently addressed criticism over her participation and said: ‘It’s only fair that each of us can express ourselves in our own gender. Sport should teach us the value of inclusion and this is fundamental for people’s happiness.’
Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav helps raise money for Paralympics star
Flavor Flav, an American rapper known as being one of the two founding members of hip hop group Public Enemy, has also been making headlines.
The 65-year-old has helped raise money to bring a US Paralympian’s parents to the Games in Paris – after they couldn’t make it to Tokyo 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Imagine spending 18 years taking ya kid to every practice and game and working 2-3 jobs to buy equipment… and then not being able to watch them play the biggest game of they life,’ he posted on X with a link to a Go Fund Me page.
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