Paralympics Paris 2024: A Thrilling Roundup

The Paralympics Paris 2024 was a resounding success, bringing together elite athletes from across the globe in a powerful display of human determination and athletic prowess. In the UK, 18.5 million viewers tuned into Channel 4's coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, and the total viewing minutes across all platforms was three billion. Rose Ayling-Ellis also made history by becoming the first deaf person to host live sports coverage on TV by presenting the Paralympics. Held from 28 August to 8 September, this edition of the Games took place against the iconic backdrop of Paris, featuring 549 medal events across 22 sports.

Record-Breaking Performances

China once again dominated the Paralympic Games, topping the medal table for the sixth consecutive summer Paralympics. Meanwhile, although the USA led the medal count in the Olympic Games at Paris 2024, they only managed to secure third place at the Paralympics, mirroring their finish from Tokyo 2020. The United States has not claimed the top spot for gold medals at the Paralympics since the Atlanta Games in 1996. Host nation France celebrated a strong performance, finishing eighth in the medal standings with 19 golds and 75 total medals. This marked a significant improvement from their 14th-place finish at the previous Paralympics, where they won 20 fewer medals.

One of the key highlights was the record-breaking achievements in various sports, with more than 40 world records broken. USA’s Jaydin Blackwell lowered his own world record in the men’s 100m T38 to a time of 10.64s. Australia’s Vanessa Low broke the women’s long jump T63, extending her own previous record by 0.12m to 5.45m. French cyclist Alexandre Léauté thrilled the home crowd at Paris 2024 by breaking the world record twice in the men’s C2 3000m individual pursuit. His remarkable performance secured him one of two gold medals during the Games, marking a highlight in his already impressive Paralympic career. These incredible achievements and record-breaking moments showcased the unstoppable spirit of the athletes, making Paris 2024 a standout celebration of resilience, talent, and the power of para-sport.

Paralympics GB's Standout Performance at Paris 2024

Paralympics GB delivered yet another stellar performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, continuing their legacy of success on the global stage. Team GB’s 215-strong squad secured an impressive second place in the medal table, just behind China, with a total of 124 medals. This included 49 golds, 44 silvers, and 31 bronzes, comfortably exceeding the UK Sport target of 100-140 medals. They added to their gold medal tally from Tokyo, securing an extra 8 gold medals. Paralympics GB had an outstanding performance in Para-swimming, securing at least one medal each day of the competition. The team took home an impressive 32 medals in the pool, including 18 golds—10 more than they achieved at the Tokyo Games. Among the standout performers, Para-swimmers Poppy Maskill and Alice Tai, along with wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn, each finished the Games with an incredible five medals. Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian, Sarah Storey, added to her astonishing tally of 17 gold medals with a further two gold medals. This exceptional performance across multiple disciplines solidified Team GB's position as a dominant force in the Paralympic movement, leaving a lasting legacy of achievement and inspiration at Paris 2024.

The Paralympics Paris 2024 will be remembered as a landmark event, showcasing record-breaking achievements and global unity. Team GB’s impressive second-place finish and China’s continued dominance underscored the high level of competition. With millions tuning in to witness these inspiring feats, Paris 2024 not only pushed the boundaries of para-sport but also left a lasting legacy of inclusion, resilience, and sporting excellence.