PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![A female athlete plays a backhand in the women's singles final at the Australian Open.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2024-01/Diede%20de%20Groot%2C%20Australian%20Open%202023%20final.jpg?h=1260855f&itok=IkPeXnsE)
Diede de Groot: 'I have a pretty big target on my back' at Australian Open
Diede de Groot opened her campaign at the Australian Open on a winning note, beating Great Britain’s Lucy Shuker 6-3, 6-1 in 58 minutes
![Photo shows a mixed doubles badminton match. A female athlete runs to a shuttle, in front of a male athlete.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-08/Lucas%20Mazur%2C%20Noel%20Faustine%20para%20badminton%20Tokyo%202020.jpg?h=bb8b5aa1&itok=4dgIljqv)
France’s Para badminton player Faustine Noel sets sights on home Paralympic Games
Noel captured a silver medal in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 tournament at Tokyo 2020
![Three female players wearing eyeshades compete in goalball](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2024-01/00%20Turkey%20goalball%20Tokyo%202020.jpg?h=7fb04d44&itok=XVxFOWZl)
Road to Paris 2024: Get the latest on the qualification for the Paralympics
Get to know the major qualification events coming up and follow athletes on their journeys to the Games
![Mona Francis, European Para triathlon Champion](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-11/mona.jpg?h=16162077&itok=T1z7eFvB)
Paris 2024 has chosen its Torchbearers for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
80% of the 11.000 Torchbearers between the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays have been informed that they will carry the meaningful fire; they are called the 'Forerunners'
![An image showing laboratory glass tubes](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2020-12/GettyImages-96526070.jpg?itok=k5NRiPt9)
Saeed Mohammed Abdulla Alblooshi receives two-year ban for anti-doping rule violation
UAE shooting Para sport athlete returned an adverse analytical finding for a prescription beta-blocker at the Al Ain 2022 World Shooting Para Sport Championships
![Six athletes compete on handcycles. The athlete leading the pack is wearing a South African jersey.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2024-01/2%20%20Pieter%20Du%20Preez%20South%20Africa.jpg?h=7c9daab0&itok=eZ7NmxWI)
Nicolas Pieter Du Preez: “I want to create impact on my journey to Paris 2024”
South African Paralympic champion shares his hopes and ambitions for 2024
![The working logo for Rising Phoenix: Tokyo.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-07/Rising%20Phoenix%20Tokyo%20cover.jpg?itok=kKKHC_tj)
Harder Than You Think & Off The Fence join to boost Rising Phoenix Paralympic Content
Tokyo, Paris, Milan and LA Paralympic content to be launched to global market; pioneering commitment to dramatically improve disabled representation in productions through to LA
![Two Para rowers - a male athlete and a female athlete - compete.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2024-01/Para%20rowing%201-%20Nikki%20Ayers%20and%20Jed%20Altschwager%20Australia.jpg?h=09d73b4f&itok=6Hx59CGQ)
The unstoppables in Para rowing: Meet Australia’s Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager
Australia's Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager won medals and set records in 2023, and they are looking forward to accomplishing much more together in 2024.
![An image of the Paralympic torch](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-07/Paralympic%20torch.jpg?itok=JZtPITWm)
Six teams representing the Paralympic Movement will be in the Paralympic Torch Relay
Initiative's objective is to spread the energy of sport and teamwork throughout France, host country of the Paris 2024 Paralympic and Olympic Games
![A female Para equestrian rider on crutches holds the bridle of her horse](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2019-08/sanne-voets.jpg?h=889bcfdd&itok=Sa630Jeg)
Para equestrian, when horse and rider venture into complete harmony
Horses in Para Equestrian are hard to find because they need to have the right feel for the athlete and the right biomechanics to suit the disability
![An athlete pointing towards the sky with his both hands in celebration.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-12/GettyImages-1338173794%20%281%29.jpg?h=2bc4dd6b&itok=mQ7k0Zpm)
When a world record puts the icing on the cake for gold medal Paralympians
The bar is set higher and higher as athletes look ahead to Paris 2024; nevertheless, several world records are expected to be broken
![A series of glass sample tubes with blue labels](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2020-11/GettyImages-96526217.jpg?h=eccca601&itok=1eIfFsSa)
WADA’s 2024 Prohibited List now in force
Agency calls on athletes, entourage, and all stakeholders to note major modification concerning tramadol
![Pal Szkeres](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2024-01/Pal%20Szekeres%20Eger%202022%20World%20Cup%20credit%20Augusto%20Bizzi%2016.9.jpg?itok=hURuuOzc)
Pál Szekeres, the only one to win Paralympic and Olympic medals keeps leading the way
The Hungarian former fencer and current politician, who will turn 60 this year, has spent his life breaking barriers on and off the piste
![Three wheelchair curling athletes on the ice at Beijing 2022](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-12/Wheelchair%20curling%20Team%20China%20at%20Beijing%202022.jpg?h=9f41d6ff&itok=BLBHwRcg)
From World Championships to World Cups, events to check out in winter Para sports
The new year just started, and there are so many things to look forward to in the winter Para sport season. Take out a pen and mark your calendar
![A female shot put athlete competes in a stadium](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-12/Lisa%20Adams%2C%20New%20Zealand%2C%20shot%20put%20Tokyo%202020.jpg?h=b3fa2922&itok=JLCZF2u5)
Para athletes excited for Paris 2024 Paralympic year
"Happy Paralympic year! It's such an exciting year. I hope you're all ready for the wild ride!" New Zealand's Lisa Adams said.
![Andrew Parsons: 'Paris 2024 Will be The Most Spectacular Games Ever'](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/ns3ArZZ8PXvd-0oNLjm4zE7i7730o6XdCSYuuSqskp4.jpg?itok=zhIVMdHo)
Happy New Year from IPC President Andrew Parsons
“Without a doubt, Paris 2024 will be the most spectacular Paralympic Games ever”
![Three male athletes compete in a race.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-12/Jason%20Smyth%20Ireland%2C%20Para%20athletics%2C%20Tokyo%202020.jpg?itok=rbrIAeye)
Training comes first for Para athletes during holiday season
Many Para athletes are choosing to prioritise their preparations for the Paris 2024 Paralympics during the holiday season
![Three female athletes with prosthetic legs posing for a picture with the flag of Italy](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-07/Italy%20t63.jpg?h=86efea42&itok=0Tgt_f7f)
Year in review: Paris 23 World Championships top moments
From Italian sprinters set to return for more glory in the French capital at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to an unbelievable shot put final and plenty of world records, a lookback at nine fantastic days in July at the Charlety Stadium
![A female Para swimmer reaction surprised in the water](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-08/GettyImages-1594438060%20%281%29.jpg?h=53bc7279&itok=Mn4SWeYU)
Year in review: Manchester 2023 top moments
A lookback at a fantastic week at the Manchester Aquatics Centre with Simone Barlaam and his teammates leading Italy to the top, Jessica Long rewriting history and Ellie Challis leaving special memories to the home crowd at the Manchester 2023 Allianz Para Swimming World Championships
![A man in a wheelchair competing in a Para trap event](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-12/Trap%20Lima%202023.jpg?h=afd4e5ac&itok=wDocjhst)
2023 in review: From Regional Games to Lima, a year full of action
World Cups in Changwon, Osijek and Al Ain add fantastic performances to a season which saw shooting Para sport entertain the audiences at the European Para Championships in Rotterdam, the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and the Parapan American Games in Santiago; while the Peruvian capital made history hosting the first edition of the Worlds in the Americas