Paralympics confirm final athletes for the Beijing Paralympic Games

ParalympicsGB

ParalympicsGB has today confirmed the final list of athletes selected to represent Britain at this summer’s Paralympic Games.  These athletes complete the ParalympicsGB squad for Beijing, which comprises a total of 205* athletes across 18 of the 20 Paralympic sports.  This will be one of ParalympicsGB’s biggest teams of all time. GB football squads are included for the first time since 1992 and rowing is making its Paralympic debut. Swimming and athletics could be rich sources of medals but sports like equestrian, rowing, shooting and others are expected to play their part in a Games which could well be dominated by host nation, China, although Britain is aiming to finish in the top five. Several multi-medallists are returning to the biggest sporting stage for athletes with a disability.  Dave Roberts of swimming already has seven golds, Lee Pearson of equestrian has won six golds from two Games and multi-medal-winning ex-swimmer Sarah Storey (nee Bailey) makes her Paralympic cycling debut in Beijing with the aims of adding to her personal medal haul.  The youngest selected athlete is swimmer Eleanor Simmonds, who is 13, the oldest selected athlete is archery’s Fred Steven’s, who turns 63 the month following the Paralympics. The largest sports squad is athletics with 36 athletes.  Final adjustments to the squad have been made in the last few weeks.  These include the selection of Kate Arnold from athletics, Lee Fawcett from wheelchair fencing, Paul Shaw in the wheelchair rugby squad and Paul Browne and Kate Murray in archery.  Wales’ Kate Arnold comes into the athletics squad to replace St Alban’s teenager Katherine Deal, who has had to withdraw from the Games due to injury. It was decided that it in the interests of her long-term athletics career she should not to try and accelerate her return to competition in time for Beijing. She was due to compete in the T13 400m, 800m and 1500m.  Nineteen year-old Arnold, from Newport, will come into the squad as her replacement, having made significant strides over the past two years, since her transfer from international swimming to athletics.  She will compete in both the T46 100m and 200m. ParalympicsGB have also today confirmed the selection of Lee Fawcett, from Middlesbrough, as Britain’s sole wheelchair fencing athlete for this summer’s Games.  Former wheelchair basketball player Lee, 32, switched his allegiance to fencing in 2005 before winning world cup and European championship bronze medals. He travels to Beijing for his first Paralympic Games.  Lee said: “I am really excited and proud to be included in the ParalympicsGB squad for Beijing. I have worked hard for this after a difficult year and I am going to Beijing with an aim to be successful.  “Realistically the quarter finals would be a great achievement with this Paralympic Games coming early in my fencing career, but on my day I can beat anyone and have proved that in recent competitions. If I have that day in Beijing then a medal is a possibility." Meanwhile Birmingham’s Paul Shaw comes into the British wheelchair rugby team to replace Chris Ellis, who has had to withdraw from the GB line-up due to medical reasons. Thirty-seven year-old Paul, who made his Paralympic debut in Sydney in 2000 will now travel to his third Paralympics.  There are two changes to the British archery squad for the Games.  Hertfordshire’s Paul Browne has today been confirmed as the 12^th British archer for this summer’s Games, while Scotland’s Kate Murray has been named as a replacement for Lynne Burton, who has had to withdraw from this summer’s Paralympics for medical reasons.  Both Paul and Kate make their Paralympic debuts in Beijing this summer.  Paul said: “It’s a great honour to be able to represent Great Britain at the Paralympic Games. It’s my first Paralympics and will also be the first time that I will have shot abroad so I’m in at the deep end for a lot of reasons but still very excited to be going.  “I want to go to Beijing and gain as much experience as I can to take with me to London in 2012.

by Ace on 16:58 on 24th July 2008