PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![A swimmer smiles having won gold and set a new world record](/sites/default/files/images/150328101739870_MARK%2BPAIN%2BBETHANY%2BFIRTH%2B4.jpg)
Firth ‘more determined’ than ever ahead of Rio 2016
After a successful comeback from injury, the British 100m backstroke S14 Paralympic champion is training hard towards September’s Paralympic Games.
![View on slopes in the sunshine](/sites/default/files/images/160111115516076_Kranjska%2BGora%2BIPC%2Bphoto.jpg)
Members named to new skiing Coaches Advisory Group
Seven experienced coaches will be available to the wider coaching community to answer questions on alpine skiing.
![Renske van Beek](/sites/default/files/images/160630081652800_14.jpg)
Snowboarder Renske van Beek: My three heroes
Find out who inspires the 2015-16 IPC Snowboard World Cup winner on her road to PyeongChang 2018.
![Sprinters on the track](/sites/default/files/images/160704080617657_4%2Bjuly%2B2016.jpg)
Music Monday with Germany’s Felix Streng
The German T44 sprinter reveals his three favourite musical choices.
![Man on the ground. other man jumping over him. Both focusing on a ball](/sites/default/files/images/160216075750729_Ukraine%2Bgoalkeeper%2BKostyantyn%2BSymashko.jpg)
Symashko emotional about third Paralympics
The Ukrainian goalkeeper takes inspiration from his son as he heads towards the Rio 2016 football 7-a-side competition.
![Paralympic Sports A-Z: Shooting](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/mU3FeFBtgyf5HknDxXMYyvzpJ41QMyUn_mBqwpf1HE8.jpg?itok=4P9jPxZo)
Sport Week: Introduction to shooting
A test of body and mind – quite often with conflict between the two – shooting is the ultimate demonstration of accuracy and skill.
![Jessica Long of the USA competes in the Women's 100m Breaststroke SB7 at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain.](/sites/default/files/images/150715095015310_2015%2BIPC%2BSwimming%2BWorld%2BChampionships_20150714_Luc%2BPercival_1001_HD.jpg)
Long headlines USA’s Rio 2016 swim team
Rudy Garcia-Tolson and Cody Bureau will also enter their fourth Paralympic Games in September, as 31 athletes in total complete the roster.
Fleig grows in confidence ahead of home Worlds
The German biathlete assures he has improved since competing at Sochi 2014 and is aiming for his best performances in Finsterau.
![A picture of a woman in the wheelchair on a track celebrating with her hand up](/sites/default/files/images/130206101749059_151289479.jpg)
US athletics and cycling teams named for Rio 2016
The track and field team includes 66 athletes, whilst the cycling team features 18 athletes.
![Cassie Mitchell and Kerry Morgan of the USA after the women's 100m T52 final at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France.](/sites/default/files/images/150620115719566_GettyImages-174472783.jpg)
Mitchell smashes two world records at US trials
The 35-year-old was diagnosed with leukaemia in April but was in outstanding form in Charlotte.