Paris 2024: Ones to Watch in Para swimming

The 10 names you should be looking out for when the next Paralympics kick off in France 07 Jun 2024

By IPC

With the countdown to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games well and truly in the final stages, our Sport Weeks provide you with the perfect guide to each of the competitions being contested in France.

To round off this week, here are the Para swimmers to look out for when the Paralympics open in less than 100 days.

Alexa Leary (Australia)

A female Para swimmer holds a silver medal in front of her face — @Getty Images

The former triathlete transitioned to Para swimming after a training accident and is set to make her Paralympic debut at Paris 2024. She won a gold and a silver in the S9 category at the Manchester 2023 Para Swimming World Championships.

Alexander Hillhouse (Denmark)

Three male athletes pose for a photo on the podium. — Alexander Hillhouse, right @Octavio Passos/Getty Images

Another Paralympic debutant in Paris, the four-time Worlds S14 medallist set three new world records at the 2023 championships and describes his first Games as “the ultimate goal”.

Alice Tai (Great Britain)

A woman wearing glasses showing her gold medal — @Paul Gregory for World Para Swimming

The nine-time world S8 champion and Paralympic gold medallist from Rio 2016 is looking to make up for lost time on the Games stage after missing Tokyo 2020 due to injury.

Carlos Serrano (Colombia)

A male Para swimmer competes — @Octavio Passos/Getty Images

The Colombian sensation counts 12 world titles among his impressive medal collection. The two-time Paralympic gold medallist is preparing for his third Games.

Elena Krawzow (Germany)

A female Para swimming swimming breaststroke in a pool — @Joel Marklund/OIS

The three-time world champion holds a number of world records, including in the 100m breaststroke SB12. She claimed her 2023 world title just months after successful treatment for a brain tumour.

Gabriel Araujo (Brazil)

An armless man putting his tongue out of his mouth in celebration next to a swimming pool — @Pietro Rizzato/Federazione Italiana Nuoto Paralimpico

This Brazilian superstar dominated the men’s S2 category in 2023, winning three world titles and the World Series for the first time. This followed an outstanding debut Paralympics in Tokyo where he claimed double gold.

Jessica Long (USA)

A female Para swimmer reaction surprised in the water — @Alex Livesey/Getty Images

A Para swimming legend, Long is a 33-time world and 16-time Paralympic champion and will compete in her sixth Games in Paris. The superstar collected six S8 medals at Tokyo 2020, including three golds.

Rogier Dorsman (Netherlands)

A male swimmer with a cap with the Dutch flag — @British Swimming

The Dutchman celebrated his Paralympic debut by winning three golds at Tokyo 2020 and added another six medals to his collection at the 2023 Worlds, including two golds.

Simone Barlaam (Italy)

A male swimmer raises both hands in the pool to celebrate his victory. — @Octavio Passos/Getty Images

This sprint swim sensation’s six S9 golds in Manchester helped Italy top the medals table at the 2023 World Championships. Paris will be his second Games as he looks to add to the four Paralympic medals he won in Tokyo.

Yip Pin Xiu (Singapore)

A female swimmer waving from inside the pool — @Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Singapore’s first-ever Paralympic champion and a Para swimming S2 icon continues to blaze a trail in the sport, winning two golds at Tokyo 2020 and another two at the 2023 Worlds. The five-time Paralympic champion will be competing at her fifth Games.

Book your tickets for the Paralympic Games by visiting the Paris 2024 ticketing website