Athletes Prepare for 2024 Paris Paralympics

The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris will feature a diverse lineup of athletes, including 43 Commonwealth Games alumni, as competition commences on August 28. Australian flagbearers Madison de Rozario and Brenden Hall, both seasoned Paralympians, aim for gold, with de Rozario seeking to defend her titles in the 800m T53 and marathon T54 events. Meanwhile, three athletes from Wiltshire, including Piers Gilliver in para-fencing and Dan Bethell in para-badminton, look to build on their past successes in Tokyo. Gloucestershire and Cotswolds will be represented by notable competitors, including Gilliver and para-triathlete Melissa Nicholls, both eyeing medal opportunities. American sprinter Hunter Woodhall, a double amputee and three-time Paralympic medallist, draws motivation from his wife's recent Olympic victory as he prepares for the 100m and 400m events. In Devon, Krysten Coombs, aiming to upgrade his bronze from Tokyo, emphasizes the excitement of competing in front of family and friends, a privilege he missed in Japan.