PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Snowboarder on a slope](/sites/default/files/images/151008122023482_Alex%2BMassie%2Bcredit%2Boriol%2Bmolas.jpg)
Massie ‘in the thick of it’ as season nears
The Canadian snowboarder reveals all about his preparations and how he feels ahead of the first races of the season.
![Marlou van Rhijn 100m world record in Nottwil](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/KKyhTWq-zU9H7q_x833Xdu56-sLVGcgstsJ8xgRBCh4.jpg?itok=elys0OvT)
Para athletics season in review: Sprints
With the season over, we look back at the sprinters who lit up 2016.
![Bethany Firth of Great Britain celebrates winning the gold medal in the Women's 100m Backstroke - S14 Final at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.](/sites/default/files/images/161115102538758_GettyImages-600658638.jpg)
Swimmer Firth wants to ’race as long as possible’
Britain’s most decorated athlete from Rio 2016, Bethany Firth has already begun thinking about Tokyo 2020.
Chilean youngsters Monsalve, Pino seek home crowd support
The 19-year-old table tennis players are among those to watch at the 2016 PTT Chile Open.
![Young woman shows a medal and smiles](/sites/default/files/images/161115151947733_AUG_0077.jpg)
Vio ends stellar season with World Cup gold
The Italian won her fifth title of the year at the final IWAS wheelchair fencing event of the season.
Ultee proves that anything is possible
Hoping to improve on his top three World Cup finish from last season, the Dutch snowboarder explains why helping others motivates him to succeed.
![One-legged skier going down the slope.](/sites/default/files/images/140611094930626_SOC_20140316_LP_0338_WEB.jpg)
Jochemsen’s PyeongChang 2018 quest starts at home
Dutch skier is focused on the World Championships on her road to the Winter Paralympics, and will begin her season in Landgraaf.
![No. 48: Paralympians touch hearts with words of wisdom](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/1ZtPE-4g4SPRGdFzDtVf_o-n7vlgvFvXFJDmUzZ_MIs.jpg?itok=o57qbqNs)
No. 48: Paralympians touch hearts with words of wisdom
Here are some of the most memorable interviews, speeches Paralympians gave in 2016.
![Mark Arendz](/sites/default/files/images/161114101824110_GettyImages-121007110.jpg)
Arendz looks to the season ahead
The Canadian Nordic skier is determined to put in a performance in Finsterau, Germany.
![Farhan Adawe](/sites/default/files/images/161114114807077_Farhan%2BAdawe%2Bcredit%2Bto%2BNPC%2BSomalia.jpg)
Somalia’s first Paralympian aims to promote Para sports
After competing at his first Paralympic Games in Rio, Farhan Adawe is hoping to “open many doors” for people with impairment to take up sports in his country.