Paris 2024 is expected to be the most gender-balanced Paralympic Games to date, with ParalympicsGB set to compete in 19 of the 22 sports on the programme. The para swimming team is particularly noteworthy, featuring 18 female swimmers—the largest contingent of British women in Paralympic swimming. Among them is 13-year-old Iona Winnifrith, who will make her debut as the youngest member of the entire ParalympicsGB squad.

On the other end of the spectrum, 54-year-old Jeanette Chippington, a multi-medallist in para canoeing, will be competing in her eighth Paralympic Games, having first appeared in Seoul 1988 as a para swimmer. This mix of emerging talents and seasoned veterans highlights the team's depth and diversity.

Penny Briscoe, Chef de Mission, expressed her pride in leading such a dynamic and accomplished team to Paris. She said, “I am absolutely delighted to confirm that 215 athletes will represent ParalympicsGB in Paris this summer. In the three years since the delayed Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, I have had the privilege of witnessing outstanding performances by so many of our athletes at world and European levels as they worked tirelessly to secure their places for Paris 2024.”

Briscoe emphasised the significance of these Games, predicting that Paris 2024 will be one of the most competitive editions ever. With the Opening Ceremony scheduled for 28 August at Place de la Concorde, the stage is set for an extraordinary event in the heart of Paris.

The ParalympicsGB team comprises both seasoned Paralympians and new talent. Of the 215 athletes, 81 will make their Paralympic debut in Paris. Meanwhile, 49 Paralympic champions will return, including cycling legend Dame Sarah Storey, who is set to compete in her ninth consecutive Games. Storey, the most decorated British Paralympian with 17 gold medals, remains a formidable force in para cycling.

In preparation for Paris 2024, the team has received extensive support both in the UK and in France. Briscoe highlighted the importance of this backing, stating, “More than a third of the athletes in the ParalympicsGB team will make their Games debuts in Paris, and I am proud of the support these athletes —along with our experienced Paralympians— will receive from the network of staff both in the UK and in France who have been working tirelessly to ensure ParalympicsGB is fully prepared both on and off the field.”

This year’s Paralympic Games will also provide new opportunities for female athletes, particularly in para badminton, which made its debut at Tokyo 2020. Liverpool’s Rachel Choong, a ten-time world champion, will make her first Paralympic appearance, adding excitement to the British team’s prospects.

Reflecting on the success of Tokyo 2020, where ParalympicsGB won medals in 18 different sports and finished second on the medal table behind China, the team aims to build on that momentum in Paris. The British squad secured a total of 124 medals, including 41 golds, at the last Games, setting a high standard for Paris 2024.

Among the athletes to watch in Paris is Alfie Hewett, fresh off a Wimbledon victory and eager to secure his first Paralympic gold in wheelchair tennis. Despite winning silver in both singles and doubles at Rio 2016, Hewett is determined to top the podium this time around. Will Bayley, the para table tennis gold medallist from Rio 2016, has remained undefeated in his category since Tokyo 2020, making him a strong contender for another title. Similarly, para triathlon world champion Dave Ellis is seeking redemption after equipment failure thwarted his hopes at the last Games.

While the majority of action takes place in and around the French capital, from Para equestrian at the Chateau de Versailles in the east, to Para canoe and Para rowing at Vaires-sur-Marne in the west, Shooting Para sport takes place nearly 300 km to the south in Chateauroux, where Matt Skelhon, Ryan Cockbill, Tim Jeffery and Issy Bailey take aim for ParalympicsGB.