2024 PARIS PARALYMPICS | PREVIEW

The world will once again turn their attention to Paris as the world’s best Paralympians battle it out for glory. Australia returns to the City of Lights following a record-breaking Olympic Campaign with a 32-strong para-athletics team, including six powerhouse West Australian athletes, primed for Paralympic success.  

Western Australia’s top athletes will lead the way, literally, with wheelchair athlete and 2021 Paralympian of the Year Madison de Rozario (Louise Sauvage) taking on the role of Flag Bearer for the opening ceremony. De Rozario will launch her fifth paralympic campaign in the City of Lights and look to add a third Paralympic title to her collection. The two-time London Marathon winner will line up in the T54 1500m, 5000m and Marathon as she looks to replicate her incredible Tokyo 2020 performance.  

2023 World Para Athletics Championship medallist Rhiannon Clarke (Danny Kevan, UWA Athletics Club) takes on double duties in Paris as both athlete and co-captain of the Australian Athletics Championships. Clarke heads into the Paralympics in personal best form and is fresh off setting her latest Australian para record in the T38 100m. Running a blistering 12.79 at the WA Athletics Stadium in early August, Clarke will look to further that measure when steps up onto the world stage at Stade de France. Primed for a podium, the WAIS athlete returns to Paris with another busy schedule and will contest the T38 100m and 400m.  

Clarke will be joined by The White Tiger in the leadership team with Chad Perris (Matthew Beckenham) also named a co-Captain of the Australian Athletics team. Perris returns for his third Paralympics refreshed and revitalised to challenge for the T13 100m title. The fastest Australian Paralympian of all time, Perris returns to Paris with a vengeance after missing a medal in the 100m at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships by only 0.01 seconds.   

Two-time World Championship medallist Sarah Edmiston (Paul Edmiston, Perth Track & Field) is no stranger to the podium. The national record holder has a heavy collection of silverware, claiming four international medals from five meets. Ranked number one in the world in 2020, the mother of four will bring her best to the Paris Paralympics as she looks to add a second Paralympic medal to her collection.  

Australian Champion Jackson Hamilton (Grant Ward, UWA Athletics Club) is set to make his Paralympic debut in the City of Lights contesting the Men’s F13 Javelin event. Despite not throwing his best in Kobe, the UWA athlete is ready to return to his national record best of 68.43m when he steps out onto Stade de France. 

Rio 2016 bronze medallist Ella Pardy (Danny Kevan, UWA Athletics Club) returns to the Australian Team for her third Paralympic campaign in Paris. A stalwart of the Australian para team since 2014, Pardy will line up for the T38 100m against a tough field of competition as she looks to round out her 2024 season.  

The Australian Athletics Team will begin their Paralympic campaign on August 30, with the commencement of the Athletics program.  

You can stay up to date with all the athletics action from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games via Athletics West Facebook and Instagram pages.  

To watch all the athletes in action at the Paris Paralympics, head to 9NOW.  

For more information on how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West on 08 6272 0480 or email us at admin@athleticswest.com.au.  

By David Smith & Imogen McDonald, Athletics West  

Posted on 29 August 2024