We look at some of the leading contenders for track and field gold in the French capital at the 2024 Games.
Hannah Cockroft GBR
Age: 32 • Events: T34 100m and 800m
The seven-time Paralympic champion will be competing in her fourth straight Games after victories in London, Rio and Tokyo.
Ezra Frech (Getty)
Ezra Fritch USA
Age: 19 • Events: T63 high jump, long jump and 100m
The American teenager highlighted his high jump talent when he broke the men’s T63 high jump world record with a leap of 1.95m at the 2023 World Championships, where he won the gold medal.
Thomas Young (River)
Thomas Young GBR
Age: 24 • Event: T38 100m
The Brit made a remarkable entry into para-sport in 2018, securing double gold at the T38 100m and 200m European Championships. Just a year later, he added World Championship silver to his collection before culminating in the Tokyo Paralympics title.
Fleur Yong (River)
Fleur Jong NED
Age: 28 • Events: T62
Long jump and 100 m
In 2023, she broke the women’s T62 long jump world record with a jump of 6.74m, while also setting a world record of 12.46 in the 100m.
Timothy Adolph FRA
Age: 34 • Event: T11 100m
With his home crowd behind him, the visually impaired Frenchman will be more determined than ever to win his first Paralympic gold after earning silver in Tokyo.
Aled Davies (Getty)
Aled Davies GBR
Age: 33 • Event: F63 Shooting
As for the hurling, Aled Davies is the one to beat. His last victory came at the World Championships in Kobe, where he won his 10th gold medal with a throw of 15.60m.
Kathryn Debrunner (LM Events)
Catherine Debrunner SWI
Age: 29 • Events: 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m and marathon
With five gold medals at the World Championships, the Swiss athlete is looking to dominate the track and retain the 400m T53 title.
Zach Shaw, Johnny Peacock, Sophie Hahn and Sammy Kinghorn (Getty)
Sophie Hahn GBR
Age: 27 • Event: T38 100m
After equaling her own world record in the heats in Tokyo, Hahn went on to claim gold for Great Britain in 2021. She will have her sights set on her world record of 12.38 in Paris, having run 12.55 at the London Diamond League in July.
Sumit Antill IND
Age: 26 • Event: F64 Javelin
As India sends its largest ever contingent to the Paralympics, all eyes are on Sumit Antill, a true icon in Indian para sports. Antille is a Paralympic and reigning World Champion in the F64 Men’s Javelin category, consistently proving himself on the world stage.
Ambra Sabatini (River)
Ambra Sabatini ITA
Age: 22 • Event: T63 100m
Ambra Sabatini made history in 2023 as the first woman with an above-the-knee amputee to run the 100 meters in 14 seconds.
» This is an edited version of a feature available in the latest issue of AW magazine. To purchase a copy click here
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