The wait is finally over! The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games opened on 28 August, with a spectacular Opening Ceremony.
The iconic Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysees served as the backdrop to the Opening Ceremony when athletes from around the world, including three UWS graduates, took part in the Parade of Nations.
Stephen McGuire (HND Retail Management 2005) will be making an incredible 4th consecutive Paralympics representing Team GB in Boccia. He made his Paralympic debut at London 2012 where he competed alongside his brother, Peter. He has since competed at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. His career highlight was at the 2016 World Championships in Beijing when he became World Champion in individual competition to better his silver medal from 2010.
“For me there is no greater privilege in sport than competing at the Paralympic Games for GB. This selection is not possible without my teammates who push me every session.”
Martin Perry (BSc Sport Development 2015) will be heading out to his first Paralympics this summer as the World No. 8 player looks to medal in Table Tennis. Martin, European Team and British Champion 2019, has finally realised his dream of securing a place after narrowly missing out for the 2020 Games in Tokyo.
“I only officially found out I was qualified while I was still competing. I remember winning the match, I looked at my coach, I said ‘I think I’m in’, and he said ‘yeah, you are’. I stepped over the barrier to the court, sat down and bawled my eyes out. So many years of doubting myself, hours of hard work on the table, it was 14 years of relief.”
Read more on the BBC website: ‘Playing table tennis with no hands is stupid – but I love it’
Kayleigh Haggo (BA (Hons) Sports Coaching & Development 2019) will also be making her Paralympic debut in Paris but she has been on the world stage for another sport before. A World and European Champion frame-runner, Kayleigh was devastated to find out her sport would not be included in the Paris Paralympics. Not willing to give her Paralympics dream up, she started playing boccia. From having played boccia only a handful of times in two years she reached 13th in the world rankings and was named in the boccia team for Paris 2024 in June.
“After 13 years of competing internationally over 3 different sports, my dream has finally come true. Thank you to my wonderful family and friends who have supported me on this crazy long journey. I hope to make you all proud in Paris.”
Read more on the BBC website: Living my Paralympic dream after switching sports
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