Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Phoebe Paterson Pine and Jodie Grinham, who will be 28 weeks pregnant when competing at Paris 2024, will be representing ParalympicsGB for the second time alongside Nathan Macqueen, who will be competing in his third Paralympic Games. They are joined by Victoria Kingstone who will make her Paralympic debut in the French capital.

Paterson Pine said: “Just making Tokyo was an absolute dream come true so to be selected for my second Games as well is like one goal after another coming true!

“I’m also grateful the Games are so close to home this time, not only from a travel perspective but also being able to have my family and friends come and watch. Tokyo felt quite isolating at times, so being able to have them all come and support and see them and have a hug if needed is so important.

“I want to treat every single Games as a separate Games. I will always be Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion; nobody can take that away from me. Do I want to be Paris 2024 Paralympic champion – of course I do – but I’m not going to put that pressure on myself. I’m 26-years old, I want to go out there, enjoy the experience and enjoy being a two-time Paralympian.”

Grinham, who hails from Haverfordwest in Wales and now lives in Crawley, Sussex, won silver in the Compound Mixed Team event at Rio 2016. She will be 28 weeks pregnant when she competes in Paris, which is thought to be a first for any Paralympian competing for Great Britain.

The 30-year-old said: “It’s a very different experience for me this time around. You’ve got the athlete in me who’s relieved, excited and extremely prepared and then you’ve also got the mummy in me that’s going to miss home, miss my son and will be 28 weeks pregnant when competing in Paris. It’s all about creating a balance – as much as I know I’m going to miss home; I also love what I do so there’s always going to be a compromise.

“I can say I’ve been in the Paralympic family for eight years now and it really is family – we all support each other regardless of what we’ve gone through.

“I would love to bring a medal back like I did in Rio. To get on the podium, not just for myself and the performances I’ve done, but for women to show you can compete while pregnant and do well.”

The four archers were officially announced by ParalympicsGB at an event at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, the home of Archery GB, and the location of the recently opened Performance Archery Centre where the team have been training in the run up to Paris. The event, part of an international camp with visiting athletes from France, Finland, Hungary and Ireland, also saw children from local schools invited to meet the athletes and have a go at archery.

Macqueen, 33, made his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 just months after his first international competition. The Scot, who lives in Dumfries, is the current world number two.

Macqueen said: “I’m really excited to be selected in what will be my third Paralympic Games. Taking part in three consecutive Games has not been easy by any means, but I want to keep going and become the Scottish Paralympian with the most Paralympic appearances.

“In comparison to previous Games it feels more real. Tokyo was what it was because of the way the world was at the time. I’m absolutely buzzing to be heading to Paris.

“My wife, son and lots of my family will all be coming to watch which will be brilliant. In terms of aspirations, you always want to win a medal. I don’t care what colour it is but just to be able to give my little boy a medal would be very cool.”

Completing the squad is Paralympic debutant Victoria Kingstone, originally from Rainham in Kent and now living in Camberley, Surrey, who will compete in the W1 Open category.

The 42-year-old, who won mixed team bronze at the 2023 European Para Championships said: “I just missed out on Tokyo but I’m looking forward to Paris, albeit a little nervous too. The closer it gets the more you realise the scale it is going to be and it’s daunting but it’s about getting the balance right, focusing on just delivering the best performance you can give. Preparations are going well, but with it being my first Games I haven’t got anything to compare it to. I don’t know how I’m going to perform but particularly in my category anything is possible!

“Being so close to home it almost feels like a home Games. My family is from Kent so they’re hoping to come over and watch me compete which will be really nice, and even those that aren’t able to travel, the minimal time difference will make it a lot easier for everyone to watch.”

ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome our four Para archers to the ParalympicsGB team for Paris 2024. Nathan, Phoebe and Jodie all have fantastic Paralympic experience behind them and I know as a group will lead the way when it comes to sharing that Paralympic journey with Victoria as she makes her Paralympic debut in Paris.

“I’m especially pleased for Jodie who has been selected to compete for ParalympicsGB as an expectant mum – a first for ParalympicsGB and news we were delighted to learn. ParalympicsGB has been in close contact with the support team at Archery GB as well as colleagues at the UK Sports Institute to ensure Jodie is well looked after at the Games and I know she has been thorough in her preparations too.”

Rachel Bayley, Paralympic Team Leader, said: “I’m proud of the whole team. They’ve all worked so hard to get to where they are today. We have some with pedigree from past Paralympics, some that perhaps have some unfinished business, one debutant and some silverware from recent international competitions which is really positive. Whilst we don’t like to talk specifically about medal outcome, I’m very aware of what this team is capable of and so are they.

“Every team that’s going to be in Paris is going to be very competitive and we will be too. I’m confident we’ve got the ability to be there and compete and hopefully that will deliver some success.”

A total of around 220 athletes from 19 sports are expected to make up the British team that will compete in Paris.

At Tokyo 2020, ParalympicsGB won medals across a record breaking 18 different sports – the highest number of any nation ever. ParalympicsGB finished second on the medal table with 124 medals overall, including 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze.

Full Archery squad:

Nathan Macqueen – Compound Men Open

Jodie Grinham – Compound Women Open

Phoebe Paterson Pine – Compound Women Open

Victoria Kingstone – Women WI

With thanks to ParalympicsGB

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ParalympicsGB’s sprint canoeists were the dominant force on the water on Thursday as they powered their way to five podium finishes – representing over a third of the 12 British medals picked up on day eight.

Jeanette Chippington kicked things off by winning the first ever para-canoe gold medal in the KL1 final before Emma Wiggs (KL2) and Anne Dickins (KL3) added further titles with bronze also going the way of Ian Marsden (KL1) and Nick Beighton (KL2).

Sophie Christiansen (Photo: onEdition)

It also proved to be a successful day of equestrian action with Natasha Baker taking dressage Grade II gold while Sophie Christiansen led a British one-two ahead of Anne Dunham in the Grade Ia test.

Charlotte Henshaw took 100m breaststroke SB6 bronze in the pool while Richard Whitehead (100m T42) and the women’s 4x100m T35-38 relay squad of Kadeena Cox, Maria Lyle, Georgina Hermitage and Sophie Hahn then doubled the athletics silver tally for the night in a new British record.  

Sophie Hahn, Georgina Hermitage, Maria Lyle and Kadeena Cox (Photo: onEdition)

The quartet had already won five gold and two bronzes between them in Rio but, despite clocking 51.07, were unable to get the better of China who set a new world record 50.81 for gold.

And there was also a silver on the court with wheelchair tennis players Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid losing 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 to French doubles pairing Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer in the final.

On Friday, Hannah Cockroft is looking to compete a gold medal hat-trick as she goes over an unfamiliar distance in the women’s 800m T34 final while Dan Greaves, who has won medals at four consecutive Games, will be looking to regain his Paralympic title won 12 years ago in the F44 discus final.

It’s a busy day at the pool with Michael Jones, Susie Rodgers, Hannah Russell, Stephanie Millward – all already gold medallists – in action in the penultimate day of swimming.

Velodrome star Megan Giglia aims for another gold in the women’s C1-2-3 road race, having finished fourth at last year’s World Championship in the event. Also in action will be David Stone and Hannah Dines in the men’s and women’s T1-2.

Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett will contest an all ParalympicsGB showdown for men’s singles gold at the wheelchair tennis, having combined to win men’s doubles silver on Thursday.

ParlympicsGB women’s wheelchair basketball team look to rebound from their semi-final defeat to the United States when they play the Netherlands for bronze – which would be their first-ever medal at the Games.

And Will Bayley, Ross Wilson and Aaron McKibbin will also be seeking a class 6-8 team table tennis bronze against China after losing their semi-final with Ukraine.

David Smith is brimming with confidence as he seeks to upgrade his London 2012 silver in the men’s BC1 boccia final while John Walker, John Cavanagh and Jodie Grinham are competing in the men’s and women’s individual archery competitions at the Sambodromo.

Sailing continues in the Paralympic regatta with the final action before Saturday’s double points medal race while ParalympicsGB take on Brazil in their final wheelchair rugby group match, having suffered narrow defeats to defending champions Australia and top seeds Canada.

Report courtesy of ParalympicsGB

Susannah Rogers, 50m Freestyle S7 (Photo: onEdition)

World records, gold medals, shock and awe – Sascha Kindred, Ellie Simmonds and Susie Rodgers wrote their name in British sporting history at the Paralympic Games.

In the space of just 38 minutes, Kindred and Rodgers gave hope to all those who believe life can begin at 30, while the seemingly nerveless Simmonds just proved simply peerless once again.

Kindred made his Paralympic debut in Atlanta before Simmonds had celebrated her second birthday but both smashed world records in a famous eight minutes for ParalympicsGB.

And then Rodgers, who only started swimming seriously after watching Simmonds win double gold in Beijing, claimed a victory that left her shaking with disbelief.

Rio will be the 38-year old Kindred’s sixth and final Games and his victory in the 200m medley SM6 final, a 13th medal and seventh gold, was arguably his greatest yet.

Kindred been disqualified for an illegal kick during the morning heats, only to be reinstated after a team appeal.

He’d won silver in the event four years ago but was a gold medallist in his specialty discipline in Beijing, Athens and Sydney – and there was only one medal he wanted to retire with. And, after clocking a world record 2:38.47, he said:

“That’s my last Paralympic race. I’m not Steve Redgrave but I’m 99 percent sure you won’t see me in Tokyo.

“13 medals and that’s my lucky number. Seven golds and that’s a special number to me too. I’m a big Man United fan and seven is a pretty important number to us. 

“Swimming can be a very lonely sport and to achieve that at 38 makes everything worthwhile, this is what all the hard work is for.

“It’s been a day of highs and lows, such a rollercoaster after the disqualification and reinstatement. I knew I was in form and I just hoped all that training would pay off.

“To be Paralympic champion and a world record holder at 38, is very special. I didn’t feel I deserved a disqualification and it did give me an extra motivation to finish on a high.”

Simmonds claimed the fifth Paralympic gold of her career – and rewrote swimming history in the process.

The 21-year old became the first SM6 swimmer to dip below three minutes in the 200m medley, as she clocked a world record 2:59.81.

She said: “To swim a personal best, get a world record and another gold medal, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I just focused on myself and didn’t think about what anyone else was doing.

“The Paralympics brings out the best in me. I love the pressure, it drives me forward and I just want to go out there and smash it.

“Last year I set a goal of being the first in my class to go under three minutes. I didn’t tell anyone, my coach or my family, and now I’ve done it.

“I saw Sascha in the call room and I thought I had to do it, it made me even more nervous. The team is on fire and we’ve still got five more days to go.”

But arguably the best was saved for last. Kindred and Simmonds have won 12 Paralympic golds between them but Rodgers, 33, never even expected to win one.

She’s spent recent weeks in and out of hospital but finally turned her four career bronzes into the most brilliant gold, clocking 35.07 secs to win women’s 50m butterfly S7 gold.

She said: “I can’t believe I just did that, I think the look on my face said it all. I thought I was going for silver, I never expected to win gold in my wildest dreams.

“I was ill for six weeks and in and out of hospital in the build-up and I never thought this could happen. I don’t think I’ll ever come down from this.

“I knew I could do a quick time but never that quick. My job is done, I don’t think this will ever sink in. This goes to show that no matter how old you are, you can still pull things out of the bag.”

At just 13 Abby Kane is the youngest member of ParalympicsGB in Rio and she produced another personal best to finish sixth in the 400m freestyle S13 final.

After clocking 4:49.27, she will now look towards the 100m backstroke later this week, saying:

“There is definitely room for improvement but I’ve got loads of time. This is all about experience and fun for me right now. I’m really buzzing for the backstroke now but I’ve got to wait a few days.”

Elsewhere, Alice Tai, 17, clocked 1:11.92 to finish seventh in the women’s 100m butterfly S10 final while Andrew Mullen’s 34.87 sec personal best secured fifth in the men’s 50m freestyle S5 final.

Report courtesy of ParalympicsGB

With just one day to go until the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games open, ParalympicsGB has confirmed that Lee Pearson CBE, one of the team’s most decorated and experienced athletes to compete in Brazil, will carry the flag for Great Britain in the Opening Ceremony.

Pearson has won 12 Paralympic medals including 10 gold since he made his Paralympic debut at Sydney 2000. He won a hat-trick of gold medals in the team, individual and freestyle events in Sydney, Athens and Beijing; his success at London 2012 brought his total medal haul to 10 gold, one silver and one bronze.

Pearson was nominated for the honour in a vote by his fellow athletes from the 19 sports that make up the ParalympicsGB team.

Speaking today, Pearson said: “I am so proud and honoured to be the flagbearer for such a talented, strong and passionate group of British athletes.

“Being a diverse character myself has meant that being voted by the athletes themselves has made this moment even more special.

“I genuinely feel that we are among the best prepared and supported athletes at the Paralympic Games and I can’t wait to lead my fellow team mates from ParalympicsGB into the stadium in a day’s time – I hope I don’t get blown away!”

ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe said: “Lee has been a cornerstone of our equestrian team since he first made his debut in Sydney and has played a key role in establishing Great Britain as a leading Paralympic nation in the sport.

“I was delighted to inform him that he has been chosen, with the backing of his peers in Rio, to take the role of flagbearer in the Opening Ceremony, and the team will be proud to march out behind him. I hope it is one of many memorable moments that he will take away from this Games, and wish him all the very best in his upcoming competition.”

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games open on Wednesday September 7 and will come to a close on Sunday September 18.

Report courtesy of ParalympicsGB

The four para-rowing boat classes each have 12 boats entered with a total of 96 para-rowers competing at the regatta course on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in the heart of Rio. These athletes cover 26 countries. This is an increase on the London 2012 Paralympic Games where 23 nations competed. As well, 36 countries participated in the qualification process for Rio2016 which is more than the 28 from the London 2012 process.

The para men’s single sculls has the reigning World Champion Erik Horrie of Australia lining up against the 2012 Paralympic Champion Cheng Huang of China. Huang has done minimal racing during this Olympic cycle while Horrie, in the meantime, has accumulated three World Champion titles.

For the para women’s single sculls a showdown is likely between current World Champion, Moran Samuel of Israel and winner of this year’s World Rowing Cup III Rachel Morris of Great Britain. There is also Birgit Skarstein of Norway who was third at last year’s World Rowing Championships.

Gavin Bellis and Kathryn Ross of Australia come into the para mixed double sculls as three-time consecutive World Champions. Earlier this year, however, they were beaten by France’s Perle Bouge and Stephane Tardieu. These two boats will face each other again in Rio.

The para mixed coxed four has been dominated by Great Britain in recent years, but they missed the chance to race the ever-improving Canada in the 2016 season. Zimbabwe is racing in this boat category as they make their Paralympic debut in rowing.

As the IPC has suspended the Russian Paralympic Committee and Russian Para athletes from participating at the Games, the two Russian qualification slots have been re-allocated by the IPC to GER in the ASM1x and USA in the TAMix2x.

The para-rowing regatta will run from 9 to 11 September 2016 with 12 September available as a reserve day in case of changes to the schedule. Racing over the three days is timed for 8:30am to 10:30am daily (BRT).

You can find race results, live race tracker, photos, live blog and race reports here.

Report courtesy of World Rowing.