Paralympics 2024: South West athletes gearing-up for Paris games
215 athletes will be representing Great Britain - which the highest proportion of female athletes ever
Last updated 28th Aug 2024
The summer of sport continues - as millions of us, here in the South West, and across the country get ready to cheer on the amazing athletes heading across the English Channel to represent Great Britain at this year's Paralympic Games in Paris.
From Wiltshire to Wiveliscombe, 'Team South West' will be represented by dozens of superhumans joining the GB contingent over in the French capital - and they're telling us that they can't wait to get going.
Well, there's a lot at stake for this year's contingent - more than a third of whom are making their debut in Paris - after ParalympicsGB came second only behind China in the delayed Games back in 2020.
Tokyo's athletes brought back 41 Gold, 38 Silver and 45 Bronze Medals - 73 more than the host nation.
The most gender-balanced Games in history
As revealed earlier this month by ParalympicsGB, of the 215 athletes selected for the Games, 46 per cent of them are female - which is the highest ever proportion in an event which is set to be the most gender-balanced in history.
As a country, we'll be taking part in 19 of the 22 different sporting disciplines which make up the Paralympics - something the Chef de Mission, Penny Briscoe says is something we can be proud of.
She said: In the three years since the delayed Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games I have been privileged to witness outstanding performances by so many of our athletes at world and European level as they worked so hard to secure qualification for Paris 2024.
“Now that time has come, and we are days away from the start of what I believe will be a spectacular celebration of Para sport at the most competitive Paralympic Games ever, which will be enjoyed by fans both in France and around the world.
“Paris 2024 promises to be a landmark Paralympic Games with our highest representation of female athletes ever and a host of talented athletes seeking to achieve personal best performances in one of the world’s great cities.”
South West represent!
Thousands dream it - but only a lucky few get the honour of being picked to represent their country at the Paralympics - and the squad from the South West certainly know it.
From up and down the South West, these superhumans one day thought that it could be them - and 2024 is their chance to shine.
It's taken years of dedication, sacrifice, and hard work to get to this point, and all that the athletes we spoke to say they want to do is make sure they enjoy the Paris experience.
Those heading to the Games include:
- Billy Shilton - Table Tennis player from Stonehouse
- Cameron Vearncombe - Swimmer from Bridgwater
- Chris Hunt Skelley - Judo gold medallist under 100kg from Swindon
- Dan Bethell - Para Badminton player from Wiltshire
- Daphnie Schrager - Cyclist from Malmesbury
- Evan Molloy - Judo player from Devizes
- Fran Brown - Cyclist from Cornwall
- Krysten Coombs - Badminton player from Totnes
- Mel Nichols - Paratriathlete from Tewkesbury
- Phoebe Paterson Pine - Archer from Cirencester
- Piers Gilliver MBE - Wheelchair Fencer from the Forest of Dean
- Sally Kidson - Boccia player from Salisbury
- Sophie Unwin - Cyclist from Honiton
- Suzanna Hext - Swimmer from Wiltshire
- Tyler Walker - Wheelchair Rugby player who represents the Cheltenham Tigers
In fact, the University of Bath are cheering on their 'Magnificent Seven' - all of whom trained in the city, and are hoping to add to Great Britain's summer success.
The seven athletes from four sports will all be in the French capital, having been spending much of their time in Bath.
Those are: Dan Bethell (para-badminton), Suzanna Hext (para-swimming), Michael Taylor (para-triathlon), and Gemma Collis, Dimitri Coutya, Piers Gilliver and Oliver Lam-Watson (wheelchair fencing) - who you can read about on the University of Bath website.
The honour of carrying the flag
Lucy Shuker, who trained in the West Country, is one of the flagbearers for ParalympicsGB as the games get underway later.
The 44 year old, who trained in Taunton, is one of Britain's most successful wheelchair tennis players ever and was recently recognised in the King's Birthday Honours.
She said: "To have that honour to lead ParalympicsGB out is incredible and something that I never thought I would do. To qualify for my first Paralympics in Beijing was an achievement in itself - but to come to my fifth Paralympics and now be a flagbearer is a real dream come true.
“Leading the parade down the Champs-Elysées and Place de la Concorde is going to be really different – eyes will be on me, but also the rest of ParalympicsGB. We are a big team and to be at the front of that is insane, incredible and an honour. The team is everything, we are all there to represent ParalympicsGB and bring back medals – so we will do it together.”
'It's an extremely exciting time'
Evan Molloy's journey on the international stage has only just begun.
202\3 was a huge year for Evan, bringing back a medal from the European Championships - winning Bronze in Rotterdam's Ahoy arena in the 90kg J2 category.
The man from Devizes, who's visually impaired and suffers from epilepsy, was diagnosed at just four years old.
At the age of 24, he's now been seizure-free for nearly five years, after finding the right medication for him, thanks to getting in touch with the Epilepsy Society.
He was selected to represent GB Judo in Paris back in July, with the Epilepsy Society posting on social media, saying: "We're so proud of you Evan, and can't wait to be cheering you on in 6 weeks!"
He told us: "It's an extremely exciting time, and it feels amazing to say that I can officially be called a Paralympian.
"A lot of hard work has gone in to getting to this point - but it's an amazing sport. My parents were looking for me to make a few new friends and get involved with an activity, which I just fell in love with.
"At one point, I was training five days a week after school, Monday to Friday, with a competition on the Saturday or the Sunday... that was two or three years of mine and my Dad's life.
"My stepmum joined along the way too, and as much as it takes a lot of commitment from me, they also sacrificed a so much.
"After all of this, somehow, I've ended up qualifying for a Paralympic Games!"
Dozens of his family and friends will be taking the trip from Wiltshire to watch him compete in Paris.
Evan said: "Everybody flying from home to Paris will be watching all of the British fighters on one day - and we have something like 40-strong representing Devizes coming along, which is extremely exciting for me and the lads to have so much support whilst we're out there.
"One of the most humbling things since I qualified for the Games is the amount of amazing interactions I've been having when I do go home.
"It's stuff I really appreciate, and it's lovely to have so many conversations about what I do every day - it's great to get the word out, too, about what Para Judo exactly is.
"The majority of our work as athletes is done behind closed doors to be able to get in the best position to perform at these huge events that millions of people see.
"It gives me goosebumps talking about this, because it's been such a long journey, but now, we're getting to a point where it's really starting to pay off - and you realise you're actually doing something amazing - all for this one moment on the biggest stage in the world."
'A medal would not go amiss!'
And what is he aiming to get out of Paris? It's got to be a medal.
He added: "A medal would not go amiss, I would love one!
"If I had to say something else, I'll take inspiration from Andy Murray and I might do a bit of pin collecting myself. The duvet covers are all branded too - so you can guarantee they're coming back home in my suitcase!"
If you're wondering what his favourite Judo move is - it's a Drop-Seionage.
"Shout out to the short kings! It's widely known that I'm not the tallest of gentlemen, so the Drop-Seionage is the one I'd go for.
"Being able to get underneath people who are a little bit taller than me - that's the best technique for it!"
'I'm really excited for Paris'
Salisbury's Sally Kidson is competing on the world's stage at the age of just 19 - having been selected to represent Great Britain back in June for the sport of Boccia.
The athlete, who plays in the BC3 classification, has been described as a 'star in the making' by ParalympicsGB - having already made her international debut two years ago.
Since then, she's taken on (and beat) world champion in the sport Ana Costa, Sonia Heckel - who herself is a European champion - and despite suffering two defeats in the pool stages at the Paralympics qualifiers, she and Will Arnott eventually went on to win gold!
This post on the Boccia UK social media page sums up just what it all means for Sally.
She told us: "Training's been going really well, and I've had a great run of competitions over the past couple of months.
"I've managed two consecutive 4th place finishes at Challenger level and at World Cup level, which boosted me into the Top 16 in the globe, so I'm really happy with where I'm at.
"I'm really excited for Paris, where I'm looking forward to seeing high level Boccia alongside all of the other sports too.
"We don't get a lot of multi-sport events in Boccia, so this is a unique experience for us - so I'm definitely going to make the most of it."
'I've always dreamt of doing something like this'
Elsewhere, and of course Great Britain will also be represented in the velodrome - no less than by Daphne Schrager.
She's a former sprinter, but switched sports to the one involving pedals and wheels, and made her debut in the Commonwealth Games in 2018, when it was held on the Gold Coast in Australia in the T35 category.
There, she was placed fifth in the 100m final.
This time round though, and just two years after switching sports, the focus will solely be on the The Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome.
She's competing at the Paralympic Games for the very first time, taking part in the C1-3 individual pursuit.
From Malmesbury, she said: "I just can't wait to get going - and the vibe in the training camp is really good.
"The morale is great - and everyone is cheering everyone else on.
"I just feel like we're ready now - but I'm a bit apprehensive because this is my first Games - so I really don't know what to expect... I suppose we'll have to see what happens!
"I've always dreamt of doing something like this since all the way back in London 2012 - but I didn't know what I was going to do.
"It's been quite a short turnaround, but I've been taking it all in my stride, and I'm really lucky that I had a major experience in the World Championships and European Championships, so I feel I've already got quite a good amount of experience behind me to give these Games a good go.
"My mum has been with me through the ups and downs - and all I really want to do in Paris is make all my family proud - as it's a celebration of me as much as it's a celebration of what I can do.
"This is going to be a big occasion!"
'Extremely proud'
Another place where the focus will be throughout the Paralympic Games will of course be the pool.
Back in Tokyo, Great Britain returned the seventh highest medal tally - ending their time in the Swimming events in seventh place - coming home with 8 Gold, 9 Silver and 9 Bronze medals.
Suzanna Hext, who was born in Truro and now hails from Wiltshire, will be going again in 2024 - having being placed fourth in Tokyo in the finals of the 200 metre freestyle S5 and 100 metre freestyle S5.
Similarly to Daphne in the fact that she changed sport, Suzanna started her life in sport loving equestrian - but found her home swimming.
And whilst some athletes are debuting in Paris, Suzanna's journey started all the way back in London 2012 - not as an athlete, but as a viewer.
She was told by her surgeon that she'd never walk or ride again - but continues to defy the odds.
In a riding accident that year, she suffered a Spinal Cord injury, a split second in time which she told us 'changed the course of my life forever'.
She's also profoundly deaf - now requiring a cochlear implant in both ears - but despite all of this, last year won the 50 metre freestyle at the World Championships, and finished second in the 100 metre freestyle S5 competition.
It's been a tough journey since Tokyo, calling 2022 a 'write-off' having developed sepsis whilst she was training in Lanzarote.
Suzanna told us: "It's been a bit of a rollercoaster of a journey over the past few years - but now I've got the gift of sound with my bilateral cochlear implants.
"Last year was pretty special, too, coming away with a Gold and a Silver at the World Championships in Manchester. That was all I could ever have dreamt of and more, if I'm honest."
It's a proud moment for any athlete heading to the Games - but when you compare the atmosphere to Tokyo three years ago, then it's going to feel even more special.
She said: "Every time you represent your country, you feel extremely proud.
"It's going to be very different compared to Tokyo, having the crowd, my family, and my partner there - and I really couldn't be here right now without them.
"Looking at the Olympics, the crowd looked phenomenal - and I can hear them now, as I've got my cochlear implant in.
"I honestly think it's going to blow my mind - but I also hope that'll give me the boost I need to get down the pool as fast as possible!"
In Swimming, the hard work started years ago - and so right now, it's about reaping the rewards of that effort.
Suzanna added: "It's hard work - but we're really lucky with the team we've got around us.
"I come from another sport, and actually, that was also the case in Para Dressage too, and if you're part of a team, you're part of a unit, and that's all that matters.
"I feel very lucky - my body isn't the easiest at times, but if I walk away from these Games knowing I've given 200%, I'll be very happy.
"Sometimes, I question how I've managed to get through each set back and there's been a lot of adapting, for sure.
"A few people have already told me the crowd is a lot louder in-person than what it seems like on TV, so I'm sure that'll spur me on.
"Having had my accident, and going through what I've gone through, it makes you appreciate all of those moments a little bit more, and makes you think about life a little differently too.
"So all we can do now is see what happens!"
'I just hope everyone feels inspired'
Everybody's journey to the Paralympic Games is different - including that of Stephanie Milward MBE, whose career saw her taking victories at the European Swimming Championships and Swimming World Championships in the same year back in 2009 - just months after making her debut at the Beijing 2008 games.
That year, she reached three finals in the S9 classification, after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of just 17.
In London 2012, the victories kept coming - taking to the podium not once, but an impressive five times, bringing home a haul of one Bronze and four Silver medals.
But it wasn't until Rio when she won Gold in the 100 metre backstroke S8, as well as in the women's 4x100 metre medley relay quartets, in what was the most successful Games of her career.
In all, she competed in four Games between 2008 and 2021 - and was awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year Honours list for her services to swimming.
Today, she uses her time as an athlete to give back to the community.
She told us: "London 2012 was the event that pushed everyone towards loving the Paralympics - and it just represented how fun it is to be a part of - something I'm sure will also be the case in Paris this year.
"I know how wonderful it was when I was there, and I definitely know how important it was to me, when I was competing.
"I just hope that everyone else watches these Games, and feel inspired to be a part of it too.
"There's a few people that I know who've done just that, and have taken up sport, just because of watching me and what I've done in my sporting career.
"Now, I've got MS - and if you stay happy, you stay positive, the condition stays at bay - so mindset is the be-all-and-end-all for what I have, and I think that's really reflected in what I'm doing now outside of the sport.
"Now I'm retired from competition, we need to inspire all of the children to be the best that they possibly can be, because anything is possible - and I really hope that we build on the medal tally of previous Games, and that it just increases and increases for Team Great Britain!"
She has just the one message for the Paralympians heading to Paris, and it's all about making the most of the journey.
Stephanie added: "Now is just the time for you to relax and enjoy.
"You've already done all of the hard work - you know you're in the best position ever, so you have to make the most of each and every moment that the Paralympics can possibly give to you - because it's another new experience.
"Everybody's gone through exactly the same training, thoughts, feelings... so if you're a spectator, I would say that every single sport is worth watching!"
The community getting behind the team
In the South West and across the country, for the first time, people will be able to come together and celebrate the success of the Great Britain Paralympics team.
The fan zones are each free to enter and are accessible - and will be open every day the Games are on - from the 28th of August to September 8th.
A total of six fan screenings will be held in London, Liverpool, Southampton, Bristol and Birmingham.
Bristol's fan zone is set in the heart of the city's retail and entertainment quarter - over at Cabot Circus.
Organisers say it'll 'bring the excitement of the Paralympics to life in a communal atmosphere'.
David Clarke, CEO of ParalympicsGB said: “Few things can match the thrill of watching live sport with friends and family, and these fan zones will give people the chance to celebrate the brilliance of ParaylmpicsGB athletes in a way that brings people together.
“These trailblazing fan zones show how far the Paralympic movement has come and I am confident there will be countless moments of sporting drama to unite and inspire the nation during Paris 2024.”
You can read more about the ParalympicsGB Fan Zone on their website - or head over to Visit Bristol.
Read more: Oxford expert says the Paralympics will continue to ignite our passion for live sport