PARALYMPIC GAMES
How many athletes will represent the USA at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and who are they?
After the dust settled on the Olympics, the City of Light shines once again with the thousands of para-athletes competing for gold.
The United States of America has dominated the Paralympic Games since their inception in 1960 and aims to remain at the top in Paris 2024. For the Games in the City of Light, the US delegation will consist of 220 para-athletes, 110 men and 110 women.
However, it will not be the largest delegation. Team USA will be surpassed by the People’s Republic of China with 282 athletes, Brazil with 255, and France with 237.
American parathletes ready to shine
Baltimore is a city known for producing great swimmers. Jessica Long, born in Siberia but raised in Ravenstown, has competed in the Paralympic Games since 2004, and Paris will mark her sixth appearance. To date, she has won 16 gold medals, eight silver, and five bronze. Her exceptional athletic ability extends beyond swimming, as she has also participated in gymnastics, basketball, ice skating, track and field, and climbing.
McKenzie Coan has a total of six medals, including four gold and two silver. The para-swimmer shone at Rio 2016, winning the 50, 100, and 400-meter freestyle events in the S7 category, and took second place in the 4x100 relay. In the most recent edition, she retained her title in the 400-meter event and claimed silver in the 100 meters.
Katie Bridge has accumulated four Paralympic medals in sitting volleyball: silver in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and gold in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. The para-athlete was born with a congenital absence of the fibula in her right leg, and her parents decided to amputate the affected part when she was 20 months old.
Medals in mind for Team USA parathletes
Jeremy Campbell is one of the most decorated American para-athletes. Despite having his leg amputated at the age of one, he has won gold medals in discus throw (2008, 2012, and 2020) and pentathlon (2008).
Para-athlete Roderick Townsend will compete in the Paralympic Games for the third time after excelling in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. On both occasions, he won gold in both high jump and long jump, adding another gold in the most recent edition and a silver eight years ago.
Nate Hinze is one of the top wheelchair basketball players. After three Paralympic appearances, he has won gold medals in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, along with a bronze in London 2012. Team USA will face Spain, the Netherlands, and Australia in the group stage, which will take place at the Bercy Arena.
All the action gets underway this Wednesday, August 28, and runs through until September 8. Unlike the 2024 Olympics, all 2024 Paralympic events will be held in and around Paris, including its suburbs. There will be competitions in 549 events across 23 disciplines and 22 sports.