Great Britain’s William Ellard won his S14 butterfly heat this morning
ParalympicsGB Aiming for Medals on Day One in Paris
As the 2024 Paralympics kick off in Paris, ParalympicsGB is setting its sights on a strong start with several athletes poised for medal contention on the opening day of the Games.
ParalympicsGB Swimmers Set for Final Showdown
The swimming events began with promising performances from British athletes. Teenage swimmers William Ellard and Olivia Newman-Baronius, both making their Paralympic debuts, progressed smoothly through their S14 100m butterfly heats at La Defense Arena. Ellard, aged 18, and Newman-Baronius, 17, who previously claimed gold at the Open European Championships in Madeira, are expected to be strong contenders in their finals. Ellard’s final is scheduled for 17:35 BST, while Newman-Baronius, the world record holder, will compete at 17:42 BST alongside teammates Poppy Maskill and Louise Fiddes. Maskill set a fast pace in the heats, and Fiddes will also be in the mix for medals.
In the women’s S9 400m freestyle, Toni Shaw delivered a standout performance and will be aiming for a medal in her final at 16:40 BST. Tully Kearney, who earned silver at Tokyo 2020, will compete in the women’s S5 200m freestyle final at 19:40 BST, seeking to improve her medal position.
A notable highlight occurred early in the session when Christie Raleigh-Crossley of the United States set a new world record in the women’s S9 50m freestyle with a time of 27.28 seconds.
Boccia and Table Tennis Highlights for ParalympicsGB
In boccia, British legend David Smith began his quest for a third consecutive gold medal with a decisive 5-2 victory over Brazil’s Jose Oliveria in the men’s BC1 match at the South Paris Arena.
British table tennis saw a remarkable start from 14-year-old Bly Twomey, who, alongside Felicity Pickard, secured a 3-0 win against Norway in the women’s doubles WD14 quarter-final. Twomey and Pickard will face China at 17:30 BST for a place in the final. Additionally, Twomey will compete with Joshua Stacey in the mixed doubles XD17 at 13:13 BST.
ParalympicsGB’s Kadeena Cox Targets First Gold Medal
One of the most high-profile names in the ParalympicsGB team is Kadeena Cox, who is a strong contender for the nation’s first gold medal. The Paralympic champion will compete in the women’s C4-5 500m time trial heats at the velodrome, with the final set for 14:15 BST. Cox made history in Rio 2016 as the first British athlete to win gold medals in both cycling and athletics at the same Games.
Fellow GB Para-cycling stars Neil Fachie, James Ball, and Steve Bate will also be in action on the opening day, adding to the excitement.
Historic Moments and More for ParalympicsGB
In a historic milestone, Jodie Grinham will compete in individual compound archery while seven months pregnant, becoming the first British woman to achieve this feat. Grinham will compete alongside Paralympic champion Phoebe Patterson.
Will Bayley, a gold medalist in table tennis at Rio 2016 and silver medalist in Tokyo, will begin his campaign. The women’s basketball team will face Spain in the group stages, while the men’s team has already secured a win against Germany with a score of 76-55.
Claire Taggart will also look to make an impact in her Boccia group, as ParalympicsGB aims for a successful start in Paris.