PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![A group of para swimmers](/sites/default/files/images/160505144246846_New%2BZealand%2Bswim%2Bteam.jpg)
New Zealand name Rio 2016 swim team
Paralympic gold medallists highlight the squad, including Sophie Pascoe and Mary Fisher.
![Close up of man with swim cap](/sites/default/files/images/160503164556937_DSC_0165.jpg)
Dias breaks record, Portugal wins first medal at swimming Euros
A new world record for Ukraine's Dubrov and European marks for Russia's Zhdanov and Spain's Gascon also highlightened the competition in Funchal, Portugal.
![Swimmers doing backstroke](/sites/default/files/images/150715094758513_2015%2BIPC%2BSwimming%2BWorld%2BChampionships_20150714_Luc%2BPercival_0715_HD.jpg)
Funchal 2016: Action to check out on day five
On Thursday (5 May) the men’s S2 will feature a face-off between a defending champion and swimmer set to make his Paralympic debut in 2016.
![Alex Zanardi](/sites/default/files/images/131114091300715_48%2B_0.jpg)
Zanardi is hoping age is no barrier to further Paralympic glory
The 49-year-old Italian is hoping to add to the two para-cycling gold medals he won at London 2012 at September’s Paralympic Games in Rio.
![Jose Roberto Ferreira de Oliveira (R) and Romario Diego Marques of Brazil fail to stop a goal during the Men's Group A Goalball match between Finland and Brazil at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.](/sites/default/files/images/150505092436370_goalball%2Bbrazil.jpg)
Sport Week: Romario Marques eyes first Paralympic gold
Brazil’s goalball star is hoping to help his country win the Paralympic title on home soil, at Rio 2016.
![Beatrice Vio](/sites/default/files/images/130830144619238_DSC_1618.jpg)
Vio extends unbeaten streak to 10
The Italian wheelchair fencer won the women’s foil category B at the World Cup in Laval.
![Lee Hee-beom has been nominated as the new President of the PyeongChang Organising Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games](/sites/default/files/images/160504071706693_Lee%2BHee-beom%2B%2B.jpg)
Lee Hee-beom nominated as the new President of PyeongChang 2018
The former minister has been put forward to succeed Yang-ho Cho who stepped down on Tuesday (3 May).
![The world record holder in women’s long jump reflects on success and failure at previous World Championships.](/sites/default/files/images/160504093859278_Vanessa%2BLow2.jpg)
My best and worst moments with Germany’s Vanessa Low
The world record holder in women’s long jump reflects on success and failure at previous World Championships.
![Alan Oliveira will be out to defend his 200m title at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games](/sites/default/files/images/160504075403345_Oliviera.jpg)
Paralympic stars join the part as Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay begins
Track star Alan Oliveira and wheelchair tennis player Natália Mayara were amongst the first torchbearers.
![Josef Neumaier of Germany](/sites/default/files/images/160504101916093_neumaier.jpg)
Neumaier’s comeback wins R1 gold in Szczecin
Neumaier forced a tie with Greece’s Sotirios Galogavros entering the final round and left with the victory.