PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Evan Strong, Mike Shea and Keith Gabel](/sites/default/files/images/150113130817464_Evan%2BStrong%2BMike%2BShea%2Band%2BKeith%2BGabel%2BCredit_Joe%2BKusumoto%2BPhotography.jpg)
Big names to contest snowboard-cross at World Cup
The USA’s Amy Purdy and Mike Schultz and Dutch Paralympic and world champion Bibian Mentel-Spee will all make their return from Thursday (4 February).
![In meIn’s C1 racing, China’s Zhang Yu Li earned his second gold medal in as many days at the 2015 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships.](/sites/default/files/images/150328083325591_China%2Bbike.jpg)
National Federations work to grow cycling in Asia
Seminars were held in Tokyo to discuss how to diversify the sport in the region.
![Two snowboarders race on a slope](/sites/default/files/images/150114143446448_Para-snowboard%2BWC%2BAspen.jpg)
What to watch: February 2016
Many sports in the Rio 2016 Paralympic programme are back in action for the first time this year.
![View on a slope with sit skier passing](/sites/default/files/images/160202124000029_IMG-20160201-00941.jpg)
Rumyantseva sweeps events at Nordic Asia Cup
The USA’s Oksana Masters and Canada’s Mark Arendz also secure victories in PyeongChang, South Korea.
![Collage of five images showing five athletes](/sites/default/files/images/160202143132509_Aotm%2BJanuary%2B2016.jpg)
Vote now for the Allianz Athlete of the Month – January 2016
The public has until 9 February to vote for their favourite from the five candidates.
![A picture of a woman showing her both gold medals](/sites/default/files/images/161205153656110_Terezinha-Guilhermina.jpg)
NPC Brazil to reward athletes for medals at Rio 2016
The National Paralympic Committee expects to distribute approximately BRL 3 million in rewards.
US athlete Leeper accepts sanction for Anti-Doping Rule Violation
The American T43 sprinter tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, at the 2015 US Championships.
![Veronica Hipolito of Brazil set World Record over 100m T38 at the IPC Athletics World Championships.](/sites/default/files/images/131125110324597_Veronica%2BHipolito%2Bcredit%2Bgetty%2Bimages.jpg)
Training Tuesday with Brazil’s Veronica Hipolito
The Brazilian T38 sprinter talks us through her typical day of training as she prepares for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
![Richard Brown](/sites/default/files/images/160201102203149_feb.jpg)
Music Monday: USA’s Richard Browne
From training to unwinding at home, here are the world champion’s top tracks.
![collage](/sites/default/files/images/160201105451218_FotorCreated.jpg)
Month in review: January 2016
Catch up on what happened in the first month of the Paralympic year.
![Woman in a racing wheelchair competing](/sites/default/files/images/150818145248832_GettyImages-475237848.jpg)
2016 US national athletics roster announced
Richard Browne, Tatyana McFadden and Jeremy Campbell are among the 47-strong team.
![Blindfolded football player celebrates](/sites/default/files/images/150701142820092_GettyImages-151066377.jpg)
Nations confirmed for football 5-a-side at Rio 2016
IBSA also released an updated ranking list of the sport.
![Man on mono ski during a run](/sites/default/files/images/160201141526851_landeros_nikko_012916_800x375.jpg)
Landeros switch to snow successful
Ice sledge hockey gold medallist Nikko Landeros collected silver in mono-skier X at the Winter X Games in Aspen, USA, on Saturday (30 January).
![Daniela Luchina, Yeny Paola Martinez, Miranda Biletski, Maia Amai](/sites/default/files/images/160129092208240_FotorCreated_0.jpg)
Big Read: Women in wheelchair rugby
Four different stories of women who have taken on the heavy-hitting sport.
![Carl Murphy](/sites/default/files/images/150120113355987_Carl%2BMurphy.jpg)
Snowboarder Murphy to return at NorAm Cup
After a knee injury put him out of action for more than a year, the New Zealander is ready to compete again.
![Wheelchair tennis player lifts the Australian Open trophy](/sites/default/files/images/160131091639583_GettyImages-507472040_small.jpg)
Reid, Griffioen, Alcott lift Australian Open titles
It was the first Grand Slam singles title for Great Britain's Gordon Reid
![Woman in sailing boat.](/sites/default/files/images/160131092127780_160126_jr_2690_SWCMiami_small.jpg)
British and Canadian Sailors Seal Medals
Helena Lucas took her first gold at the Sailing World Cup in Miami after five previous attempts.
![Karen O'Neill has been appointed as the new leader of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.](/sites/default/files/images/130426085535166_Canada%2BCEO.jpg)
CPC’s Karen O’Neill among CAAWS’ Most Influential Women
Canada Paralympic Committee’s CEO was among those named on CAAWS’ list for 2015
![Dee Smith](/sites/default/files/images/160128092050040_Smith.jpg)
US Sailing names Rio 2016 Paralympic hopefuls
Six sailors were named on the national team with aims in reaching this year’s Games in Rio de Janeiro.
![Brittany Hudak of Canada competes in the Women's Cross Country 5km Free Standing at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.](/sites/default/files/images/150508090141755_479029811.jpg)
Hudak pushes herself in bid to improve
The Canadian cross-country skiing World Cup winner is entering more races to gain experience which she hopes will pay off down the line.