PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Esther Vergeer

France’s Stephane Houdet and the Netherland’s Esther Vergeer finished the year as the top-ranked men’s and women’s wheelchair tennis players, respectively.

A picture of man celebrating his victory with a British Flag

#Paralympics topped the table for the most trending UK sport event of 2012, beating off stiff competition from the Olympics and football clubs.

A picture of a blind person shooting the ball in a football match

Striker Jeferson Goncalves scored half of Brazil’s goals at London 2012 to lead the football 5-a-side team to their third consecutive Paralympic title in the sport, making it into the top 50 Paralympic moments of 2012.

A picture of man celebrating his victory with a British Flag

: #Paralympics topped the table for the most trending UK sport event of 2012, beating off stiff competition from the Olympics and football clubs.

Colin Lynch

Irish cyclist Colin Lynch writes about how the next four years leading up to Rio 2016 will different for him than the last four heading into London 2012.

Michael McKillop

Jason Smyth, Michael McKillop and Bethany Firth headlined the winners at the inaugural OCS Irish Paralympic Awards gala.

Mareike Adermann

The German wheelchair basketball player talks about returning home for the first time since London 2012

Russia ice sledge hockey

Kelly Cartwright

Kelly Cartwright and Evan O’Hanlon were named Athletes with a Disability of the Year at the Athletics Australia awards.

Germany women's wheelchair basketball

After settling for silver at the previous Paralympics and World Championships, Germany’s women’s wheelchair basketball team got their gold at London 2012.