5 GB Paralympians We Are Excited to See at the Paris Paralympics
Swimming, Athletics, Boccia… What Will You Be Watching?
The summer of sport has entered its final chapter with the paralympic games kicking off in Paris.
Team GB is stacked with talent and will be hopeful they can better their impressive medal tally of 124 medals (41 golds), that saw them finish second in the table at Tokyo 2020.
With so many disciplines and sports to watch on TV, here are 5 GB Paralympians the Abbots Care team are excited to see in action over the next two weeks!
Ellie Challis
Ellie Challis is a British Paralympic swimmer who made history as the youngest member of Paralympics GB to win a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games, securing a silver in the S3 50m backstroke. Born in 2004, she began swimming as a safety measure but quickly turned it into a competitive career, breaking British records as early as 2017.
Challis competes primarily in the S3 classification for athletes with physical impairments and has become a dominant force in international swimming. At the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester, she won multiple medals, including gold in the S3 50m backstroke and S3 200m freestyle, along with setting British records. Her achievements have established her as one of the top para-swimmers globally, and she continues to represent Great Britain in major international competitions.
Ellie trains at the National Performance Centre in Manchester under coach Aled Davies, and her journey in the sport reflects resilience and a drive for excellence.
Hannah Cockroft
Hannah Cockroft is a highly accomplished British Paralympian, renowned for her dominance in wheelchair racing. Born on July 30, 1992, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Cockroft has cerebral palsy, which affects her movement and coordination. Despite this, she has become one of the most successful athletes in Paralympic history.
Cockroft competes in the T34 classification for athletes with cerebral palsy and has excelled in various sprint events, particularly the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m races. She made her Paralympic debut at the London 2012 Games, where she won gold medals in both the 100m and 200m T34 events. She continued her success at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, securing three more gold medals in the 100m, 400m, and 800m T34 events.
Beyond the Paralympics, Cockroft has also claimed multiple World Championship titles and has broken numerous world records throughout her career. Her achievements have earned her significant recognition, including being awarded an MBE and OBE.
Cockroft is not only celebrated for her athletic prowess but also for her advocacy work, promoting disability sports and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
Funmi Oduwaiye
Funmi Oduwaiye is a British Paralympic athlete specializing in shot put and discus in the F64 classification. Born on January 15, 2003, she initially pursued basketball and represented Wales at the junior level before transitioning to para-athletics in 2022 after a series of surgeries left her with paralysis in her right leg.
Despite the challenges, and with only two years of training, Oduwaiye has quickly made her mark in para-athletics, debuting at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships, where she finished fourth in shot put and sixth in discus.
Oduwaiye’s journey into para-athletics was sparked by the encouragement of her late coach, Anthony Hughes, and inspired by watching the Paralympic documentary Rising Phoenix. She is now setting her sights on competing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with aspirations of winning a medal.
David Smith
David Smith is a prominent British boccia player, widely regarded as one of the sport’s best. Born on March 2, 1989, Smith has cerebral palsy and competes in the BC1 classification, where athletes have significant physical impairments and may require assistance during play.
Smith began playing boccia at age six and quickly rose through the ranks, making his Paralympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games, where he won a gold medal in the team event. He went on to win additional gold medals in the individual BC1 category at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, establishing himself as one of the sport’s elite competitors.
Known for his strategic brilliance and precision, Smith is also celebrated for his distinctive signature mohawk hairstyle often dyed in the style of a union jack. Beyond his athletic achievements, Smith is an ambassador for disability sport, using his platform to inspire others and advocate for greater inclusion in sports.
Hollie Arnold
Hollie Arnold is a highly successful British Paralympian specializing in the javelin throw. Born on June 26, 1994, in Grimsby, England, she was born without a right forearm, a condition that led her to compete in the F46 classification for athletes with upper limb impairments.
Arnold made her Paralympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games when she was just 14 years old. She gained widespread recognition at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where she won a gold medal in the F46 javelin event with a world-record throw. She successfully defended her title at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, solidifying her status as one of the sport’s top competitors.
Throughout her career, Arnold has also won multiple gold medals at the World Para Athletics Championships and European Championships, consistently setting new world records in her classification. In addition to her athletic achievements, she has been awarded an MBE for services to field athletics.
A Source of Change and National Pride
At Abbots Care, we are incredibly proud to see our Paralympians achieve their sporting dreams on the global stage. Their unwavering determination and dedication inspire us all, serving as a powerful reminder of what’s possible. These athletes not only succeed in their sports but also champion inclusivity, sparking important conversations and driving positive change for everyone watching at home.
We are also very proud of our ongoing collaboration with the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), they have published some fantastic in-depth explorations into the careers of these incredible GB Paralympians, along with other insightful content, truly highlighting the successes and challenges of life as a professional sportsperson.