ParalympicsGB has today confirmed the final list of athletes selected to represent Britain at this summer’s Paralympic Games.
These athletes complete the ParalympicsGB squad for Beijing, which comprises a total of 205* athletes across 18 of the 20 Paralympic sports. This will be one of ParalympicsGB’s biggest teams of all time.
GB football squads are included for the first time since 1992 and rowing is making its Paralympic debut. Swimming and athletics could be rich sources of medals but sports like equestrian, rowing, shooting and others are expected to play their part in a Games which could well be dominated by host nation, China, although Britain is aiming to finish in the top five.
Several multi-medallists are returning to the biggest sporting stage for athletes with a disability. Multi-medal-winning ex-swimmer Sarah Storey (nee Bailey) makes her Paralympic cycling debut in Beijing with the aims of adding to her personal medal haul.
The youngest selected athlete is swimmer Eleanor Simmonds. The largest sports squad is athletics with 36 athletes.
Final adjustments to the squad have been made in the last few weeks. These include the selection of Kate Arnold from athletics and Kate Murray in archery.
Wales’ Kate Arnold comes into the athletics squad to replace St Alban’s teenager Katherine Deal, who has had to withdraw from the Games due to injury. It was decided that it in the interests of her long-term athletics career she should not to try and accelerate her return to competition in time for Beijing. She was due to compete in the T13 400m, 800m and 1500m.
Nineteen year-old Arnold, from Newport, will come into the squad as her replacement, having made significant strides over the past two years, since her transfer from international swimming to athletics. She will compete in both the T46 100m and 200m.
Scotland’s Kate Murray has been named as an Archery replacement for Lynne Burton, who has had to withdraw from this summer’s Paralympics for medical reasons.
Kate makes her Paralympic debut in Beijing this summer
ParalympicsGB Chief Executive and Chef De Mission for Beijing, Phil Lane, said: “Now with a little over six weeks to go until the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, ParalympicsGB is delighted to finalise their team by confirming these athletes.
“Across all the sports the British team features a mixture of new faces - including several teenagers - competing in their first Paralympics; and experienced athletes, including several defending champions returning to the ParalympicsGB team. This shows there is both strength and depth in the talent pool of elite athletes with a disability in Great Britain.
“I would like to congratulate all the athletes that have been selected for this summer’s Games, including those that have unfortunately had to withdraw on medical or injury grounds and I look forward to seeing Britain’s athletes put in personal best performances this summer in China.”
The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games opens on September 6 and closes on September 17. Britain will compete in 18 of the 20 sports at the Games, including rowing, which makes its Paralympic debut in Beijing.
At the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, Britain finished second in the medal table with a total of 35 golds, 30 silver and 29 bronze medals. With competitive standards continually rising and the dominant Chinese team taking the home advantage ParalympicsGB recognises that the 2008 Paralympics will be one of its biggest challenges yet.
