Are you ready to watch 549 events across 22 sports over nearly 2 weeks? 

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games begins on 28th September with 215 Team GB athletes taking on the best the world has to offer.

Heading to the French capital is a record number of female athletes (46%) – the highest ever proportion and even greater gender equality than Tokyo 2020 – with 81 athletes making their Paralympic Games debut, and 49 previous champions.

Aiming to better their Tokyo 2020 haul of 41 gold medals, 38 silver and 45 bronze, Team GB is creating a lot of buzz on both sides of the Channel.

So who are the ones to watch in Paris? Here’s Purpl’s handy guide on who to look out for!

Jeanette Chippington OBE

A youthful 54 years old, Jeanette is the oldest member of the Team GB squad having been selected to compete in the Para-canoe event. After debuting at the 1988 Paralympic Games in Seoul, Paris will be Jeanette’s 8th Games. Hopefully she will add to her already impressive media collection.

Iona Winnifrith

From the oldest to the youngest, Iona is just 13 years old and is one of just 14 teenagers named in the Team GB squad. She will begin her Paralympic career in Paris in the para-swimming events. She has already won two European titles this year in Madeira in the SB7 100m Breaststroke and SM7 200m Individual Medley, in addition to a bronze medal in the S7 50m Butterfly, so will be an exciting new talent to watch.

Alfie Hewitt

Recently crowned Wimbledon Champion and World Number 1 Alfie Hewitt is still searching for his elusive first Gold medal at the Paralympics. Competing in both singles and doubles with his long-time team mate Gordon Reid, let’s hope 2024 will be Alfie’s year!

Dame Sarah Storey

Heading into her ninth-straight Paralympics, Dame Sarah Storey will be making history and hopefully leaving her Para-cycling competition in her dust as she looks to add another Paralympic Gold to her incredible record-breaking 28 career medals.

Thomas Young

Bursting onto the scene in 2018 with a double European gold in the T38 100m and 200m events, had an incredible 2021 season (winning gold medals in both the World Championships and Paralympics) but more recently has been suffering from injury. However, nothing will hold this Paralympic role model back, and he will definitely be one to watch in Paris.

Hollie Arnold

Coming off the back of winning her sixth straight javelin World title, and in amazing form, Hollie will be difficult to stop! A gold medal winner in Rio and bronze in Tokyo, the Welsh Javelin champion will be looking to add another shiny medal to her collection this summer.

Karé Adenegan

The only athlete to have defeated Paralympic legend Hannah Cockroft – not once, but twice, Kare is making a name for herself in the world of wheelchair racing, and beyond. Specialising in sprint distances, she will be aiming to add to her current Paralympic medal total of five.

Oliver Lam-Watson

Public speaker and strong advocate for disability inclusivity, Oliver is an athlete who likes to push himself. The British wheelchair fencer won bronze in the Men’s team épée and silver in the Men’s team foil at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo and will be looking to follow it up with more medal glory in Paris. 

Rachel Choong

Competing internationally since 2008, Rachel is currently ranked World number one and is England’s most highly decorated badminton player with 10 World Championship titles and 9 European Championship titles. She is now looking to add her first Paralympic medal to her collection, and will be competing in both the women’s singles and in the mixed doubles, alongside Jack Shephard.

Claire Taggart

Competing in her first Paralympics in 2016, Claire became the first boccia player from Northern Ireland to represent Team GB. Now heading to Paris, Claire is looking to add Paralympic Gold to her 2022 World Championship title.

Good luck to all Team GB athletes at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. 

Who will you be watching?