2024 Paralympics Previews

[TeamGB 169]

With the opening ceremony of the 2024 paralympics just a week away, I thought I would give a sport by sport preview of the GB athletes competing and their medal chances.

 

Great Britain are sending 215 athletes in 19 sports and have been set a medal target of 100 - 140. For context, in Tokyo, they sent 227 athletes and won 124 medals, including 41 golds.

[TeamGB 169]

Archery

 

4 athletes in 4 events.

 

Nathan Macqueen - Men's Individual Compound : WR 3 and 2023 world silver medallist.

Jodie Grinham - Women's Individual Compound : WR 11

Phoebe Patterson Pine - Women's Individual Compound : WR 13 and 2021 Olympic Champion

Victoria Kingstone - Women's Individual Recurve : WR 9

Mixed Team Compound - WR 4 and European champions

 

In Tokyo the team sent 7 athletes and won a Gold and a Bronze. No golds are expected but are certainly possible, with the strongest chances being Nathan Macqueen and the Mixed team compound. 

 

GB have won every Women's Compound Gold since 2008 and both athletes have the ability to continue this streak.

 

My prediction - 0 gold, 2 medals

Edited August 22 by TeamGB

[TeamGB 169]

Athletics

 

33 athletes in 41 events

 

Nathan Maguire - Men's 400m T54 : WR 9

                            - Men's 800m T54 : WR 6 - 2024 World bronze medallist

                            - Men's 1500m T54 : WR 4

Luke Nuttall - Men's 1500m T46 : WR 9

Jonnie Peacock - Men's 100m T64 : WR 4 - 2x Paralympic Champion

Marcus Perrineau-Daley - Men's 100m T52 : WR 6

Ben Sandilands - Men's 1500m T20 : WR 2 - 2023 World Champion

Zak Shaw - Men's 100m T12 : WR 4 - 2023 and 2024 World bronze medallist

Daniel Sidbury - Men's 400m T54 : WR 8

                          - Men's 800m T54 : WR 3 - 2023 world bronze medallist

                          - Men's 1500m T54 : WR 6

                          - Men's 5000m T54 : WR 3 - 2023 world bronze medallist

Zak Skinner - Men's 100m T13 : WR 6

                     - Men's Long Jump T13 : WR 3 - 2023 world bronze medallist

Isaac Towers - Men's 800m T34 : WR 7 - 2017 world bronze medallist

David Weir - Men's 1500m T54 : WR 2 - 2012 Olympic Champion

                   - Men's 5000m T54 : WR 2 - 2012 Olympic Champion

                   - Men's Marathon T54 : WR 4 - Multi London Marathon winner

Thomas Young - Men's 100m T38 : WR 2 - Paralympic Champion

 

Karé Adenegan - Women's 100m T34 : WR 2 - Paralympic Silver

                           - Women's 800m T34 : WR 2 - Paralympic Silver

Fabienne André - Women's 100m T34 : WR 4 - 2023 World Bronze

                           - Women's 800m T34 : WR 4

Olivia Breen - Women's 100m T38 - WR 6 

                     - Women's Long Jump T38 - WR 3 - 2023 world silver medallist

Hannah Cockroft - Women's 100m T34 : WR 1 - Paralympic Champion

                              - Women's 800m T34 : WR 1 - Paralympic Champion

Maddie Down - Women's 100m T38 - WR 7 

                        - Women's Long Jump T38 - WR 8

Sophie Hahn - Women's 100m T38 - WR 1 - Paralympic Champion

Sammi Kinghorn - Women's 100m T53 - WR 2 - 2023 World Champion

                             - Women's 400m T53 - WR 2 - 2023 World Silver

                             - Women's 800m T53 - WR 2 - 2023 World Silver

                             - Women's 1500m T53 - WR 2 

Didi Okoh - Women's 100m T63 - WR 4

Eden Rainbow Cooper - Women's 800m T54 - WR 15

                                      - Women's 1500m T54 - WR 10

                                      - Women's 5000m T54 - WR 10

                                      - Women's Marathon T54 - WR 1 - Boston Marathon Winner

Ali Smith - Women's 400m T38 - WR 9

Hannah Taunton - Women's 1500m T20 - WR 5 - Paralympic Bronze

Mel Woods - Women's 400m T54 - WR 9

                    - Women's 800m T54 - WR 7

                    - Women's 1500m T54 - WR 7

 

Universal Relay - WR 2 - 2023 and 2024 World Silver

 

Jonathan Broom Edwards - Men's High Jump T64 - WR 3 - Paralympic Champion

Karim Cham - Men's Long Jump T38 - WR 2

Aled Davies - Men's Shot Put F63 - WR 1 - Paralympic Champion

Dan Greaves - Men's Discus F64 - WR 3 - 2023 world Bronze

Dan Pembroke - Men's Javelin - WR 1 - 2023 and 2024 World champion

Harrison Walsh - Men's Discus F64 - WR 4 - 2023 world bronze

 

Hollie Arnold - Women's Javelin F46 - WR 3 - 2023 and 2024 World champion

Sabrina Fortune - Women's Shot Put F20 - WR 1 - 2023 and 2024 World Champion

Anna Nicholson - Women's Shot Put F35 - WR 2 

Funmi Odunwaye - Women's Shot Put F64 - WR 3

                              - Women's Discus F64 - WR 5

 

 

In Tokyo the team won 24 medals and 9 golds, and I feel they on track for a similar result. I count 5 almost guaranteed gold medals, with countless other strong gold contenders. Given the selection policy really only allows medal contending athletes to compete, all competitors have strong chances to return home with silverware. The women's T34 100m is the greatest chance of a GB 1-2-3, which happened at the 2023 worlds. Overall, 12 events have athletes who have either won a global title in the last paralympic cycle or are currently ranked world number 1. 

 

My prediction - 10 golds, 30 medals

Edited August 22 by TeamGB

[Nickyc707 382]

The entries for the swimming events have now been released.

 

https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024-paralympics/entries/para-swimming/all-npc/men-s-50m-freestyle---s9

 

I've entered the details onto the wiki page where it is easier to see the overall picture. Unfortunately I don't know which of the relay events GB will be competing in yet.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain_at_the_2024_Summer_Paralympics

Edited August 22 by Nickyc707

[TeamGB 169]

Badminton 

 

4 athletes in 4 events

 

Daniell Bethell - Men's singles SL3 - WR 2 - Paralympic Silver Medallist

Krysten Coombes - Men's singles SH6 - WR 6 - Paralympic Bronze Medallist

Jack Shephard - Men's Singles SH6 - WR 8 - 2022 world silver

Rachel Choong - Women's singles SH6 - WR 4 

Mixed Doubles SH6 - WR 1 - 2022 World Bronze

 

In Tokyo, the sport made it's debut and the team brought home a silver and a bronze. On paper all 4 athletes could medal and even win but I don't think any of them are favourites in their categories.  The strongest chance is Dan Bethell, having narrowly lost in the many global finals he has competed in.

 

My prediction - 1 Gold, 3 medals

Edited August 22 by TeamGB

[TeamGB 169]

1 hour ago, Nickyc707 said:

The entries for the swimming events have now been released.

 

https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024-paralympics/entries/para-swimming/all-npc/men-s-50m-freestyle---s9

 

I've entered the details onto the wiki page where it is easier to see the overall picture. Unfortunately I don't know which of the relay events GB will be competing in yet.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain_at_the_2024_Summer_Paralympics

GB definitely won't be competing in either of the 20 points relays, as they don't have enough lower classification athletes, same for the 34 points relays due to a lack of depth on the mens side.

 

They will 100% be in the S14 relay. 

 

The only relay I'm not sure on is the Visually Impaired relay. They have enough athletes but they wouldn't really be swimming their favoured strokes. Also, the relay is 40 points, which would not be possible as VI swimmers are 11 points plus.

 

 

[TeamGB 169]

Boccia

 

7 athletes in 7 events

 

David Smith - Men's BC1 - WR 1 -Paralympic champion

Claire Taggart - Women's BC2 - WR 1 - 2022 world champion

Kayleigh Haggo - Women's BC2 - WR 23

Will Arnott - Men's BC3 - WR 10

Patrick Wilson - Men's BC3 - WR 12

Sally Kidson - Women's BC3 - WR 25

Stephen Mcguire - Men's BC4 - WR 9 - 2016 world champion

Mixed Team BC1/BC2 - WR 3

Mixed Pairs BC3 - WR 17

 

In theory there are 3 strong gold chances in the squad, David Smith, Claire Taggart and the Mixed Team. Smith's gold was the only medal in Tokyo and team should at least match that result. The rest of the squad may be able to eek out a couple of medals but it will be difficult.

 

My prediction - 2 Golds, 3 medals

Edited August 22 by TeamGB

[TeamGB 169]

Road Cycling

 

13 athletes in 13 events.

 

Time Trials are for each class and Road Races are in groups C1-C3, C4-C5 and B

 

Men's B squad - Steve Bate - RR and TT - 2021 TT world champ and 2016 RR olympic champ

Men's C1-C3 Squad - All RR and TT - Matthew Robertson - C2

                                                             - Fin Graham - C3 - 2x Road world Champ + world Time Trial Silver 

                                                             - Jaco van Gass - C3 

                                                             - Ben Watson - C3 - RR and TT Paralympic champion

Men's C4-C5 Squad - Archie Atkinson - RR and TT - C4 - World Bronze RR

                                   - Blaine Hunt - RR - C5

 

Women's B Squad - All RR + TT - Lora Fachie - Tokyo RR Silver

                                                      - Lizzie Jordan 

                                                      - Sophie Unwin - RR silver + TT bronze Tokyo

Women's C1 - C3 Squad - All RR + TT - Fran Brown - C1 - TT + RR world Champ

                                                                - Daphne Schrager - C2

Women's C4-C5 Squad - Sarah Storey - RR + TT - C5 - Paralympic + World champ in RR + TT

 

The squad is small but very strong. With 4 golds and 10 medals in Tokyo, I would expect them to improve on their performance. Although Sarah Storey isn't as strong as she used to (bear in mid she's 46), she is still favourite to retain both her titles, as is the men's C3 squad. With Katie George Dunlevy (Irish Athlete competing in B class) not as strong as in Tokyo, the women's B squad could also claim a few medal's and potentially (BIG IF), sweep the podiums. Fran Brown won the women's TT by 2 minutes 30 at the last worlds, so she seems pretty sure of gold as well. Unfortunatley for the men's B squad, the Dutch are too strong, and in the men's C4-C5, the better rider is Atkinson C4, so he may struggle against the C5's, as with Schragner vs the C3's. Saying that, Atkinson overlapped France's Le Cunff in the IP at the track worlds this year, and he won both the RR and TT at this years worlds and also won the C4-C5 RR in Tokyo, so he still a gold contender. This looks like a very good team, but often with the paralympics, other nations raise their game, so we will have to hope GB do the same. 

 

My prediction - 7 Golds and 12 medals. 

Edited August 22 by TeamGB

[TeamGB 169]

Track Cycling

 

15 athletes in 14 events

The Kilo/500m events are split into the same groups as the road races, C1-3, C4-5 and B, with times being adjusted for classes. The Individual Pursuit events are split for each class, except for the women's C1-C3 pursuit.

 

Men's B squad - James Ball - TT + IP - 2023 + 2024 TT silver, 

                          - Neil Fachie - TT + IP - 2023 + 2024 TT world champ

                          - Steve Bate - TT - 2023 bronze and 2024 silver

Men's C1-C3 Squad - Matthew Robertson - IP - C2

                                  - Fin Graham - TT + IP - C3 - 2023 + 2024 IP Silver

                                  - Jaco van gass - TT + IP -C3 - 2023 Double + 2024 IP gold

Men's C4-C5 Squad - Archie Atkinson - TT + IP - C4 - 2024 IP world champ

                                   - Jody Cundy - TT - C4 - 2023 + 2024 World champ

                                   - Blaine Hunt - TT + IP - C5 - 2023 + 2024 TT world champ 

 

Women's B squad - All TT + IP - Lora Fachie - IP paralympic champion

                                                     - Lizzie Jordan - 2024 double world champion

                                                     - Sophie Unwin - 2024 double world champion

Fran Brown - C1 - TT - 2023 world Silver

Daphne Schrager - C2 - IP - 2024 World champ

Kadeena Cox - C4 - TT - 2023 + 2023 World champ

 

Mixed Team Sprint - Paralympic Champions - 2023 and 2024 world silver

 

The team won 6 golds and 14 medals in Tokyo. The squad has changed a bit since then, but 5 of the gold medal winners are still there, with the exception of Sarah Storey, who is just focusing on the road. Kadeena Cox has suffered an injury, so her form is a bit unknown, but she was so dominant that she could still win at 90% health. Neil Fachie and James ball have gone 1-2 and the TT at the last 2 worlds comfortably, so that gold looks pretty safe, same with both women's B events, and the men's C3 IP. Archie Atkinson was dominant at the worlds earlier in the year, and with GB having both double world champions in the C4-C5 TT, they are favourites there also. Schrager is a bit of an unkown, she qualified fastest (WR), at the 2023 worlds but was miles off her time in finals, she won in Rio, and was quicker then the winner C3, who she will be up against. I don't think she will win but she will likely medal. The mixed team sprint (Apparently mixed, but all 3 of Chinas athletes are male), will be a likely fight between GB and China, with china the favourites, especially if Cox is injured. 

 

My prediction - 6 golds and 14 medals, the same as Tokyo.

                                    

[TeamGB 169]

Equestrian

 

4 athletes in 9 events

 

All athletes will compete in the team as well as both championship and freestyle individual events

Mari Durward-Akhurst - Class 1 - WR 1

Georgia Wilson - Class 2 - WR 5 - 2x Tokyo bronze

Natasha Baker - Class 3 - WR 5 - 2x Tokyo silver

Sophie Wells - Class 5 - WR 1 - Tokyo Silver

 

Team - WR - 4 

 

I'm not really the equestrian expert, so I'll just impart some basic knowledge. The team failed to win a medal at the world champs for the first time in a long time, potentially ever. The rankings feel to be like they lean towards those with the most competitions entered, rather than the best riders, so it's hard to make any judgements. Sophie Well's first choice horse has been rules out through injury so she is taking her reserve, on whom she scored a huge PB of 82+% in June. For context, the Belgian world champion scored 82.86%.  The team won 3 golds and 8 medals in Tokyo, and I have no idea what they are going to do in Paris. 

 

My very unknowledgeable prediction - 2 golds and 5 medals.

Edited August 22 by TeamGB