Paralympics LIVE: Great Britain’s Tully Kearney claims swimming gold after Poppy Maskill breaks world record

After a spectacular opening ceremony, the first medals of the Paralympics were awarded on Thursday as the action got underway at Paris 2024.

There were 22 medal events on the first day of competition as a busy programme started both at the swimming pool and the velodrome. There was plenty of medal success for ParalympicsGB too, with Daphne Schrager securing Great Britain’s first with silver in the C1-3 3000m individual pursuit before Steve Bate and pilot Chris Latham matched her achievement. There was disappointment, though, for Kadeena Cox, who missed out on a third consecutive C4-5 500m time trial triumph after crashing out of the final.

Earlier, the GB wheelchair rugby team got the defence of their title underway with victory over the top-ranked Australians, but the biggest talking points came as Poppy Maskill claimed gold and a world record in the 100m butterfly - then Tully Kearney won another gold in the 200m freestyle.

Follow all the reaction, latest results and medals from Paris 2024 in our live blog below.

Paralympics opening day

• Paralympics underway with British swimmers hunting medals in the pool

• GOLD! Poppy Maskill breaks world record to win 100m butterfly for GB

• SILVER! Daphne Schrager secures first medal for Great Britain in C1-3 3000m individual pursuit

• SILVER! Steve Bate wins fifth Olympic medal alongside new pilot Chris Latham

• SILVER! Will Ellard medals in S14 100m butterfly

• GOLD! Tully Kearney wins 200m freestyle S5 final

• Kadeena Cox crashes out of women’s C4-5 time trial final

• Games kicked off with spectacular opening ceremony in the heart of the city

• Paris 2024 Paralympics schedule and day-by-day events

GOLD FOR GB! Poppy Maskill breaks world record in victory

Thursday 29 August 2024 21:00 , Karl Matchett

The big talking point of day one for Great Britain will be teenager Poppy Maskill - not just a gold medal, but a world record.

At age 19, Maskill won the women’s butterfly 100m S14 in one minute, three seconds - a third of a second quicker than the previous best-ever time.

“It’s unreal and it feels weird to be the team’s first gold medallist,” she said. “This gives me so much confidence. I just wanted to swim my hardest and see what happens. I’ve worked hard in training and listened to what everyone tells me to do.”

Maskill is still to compete in the 100m backstroke at the Games, too.

GB medals on day one

Thursday 29 August 2024 20:40 , Karl Matchett

Six medals on the opening day - a very decent haul for ParalympicsGB.

We’ve just seen Tully Kearney claim gold in the women’s freestyle 200m S5, while earlier it was Poppy Maskill who claimed the first gold of the day for GB, winning the women’s 100m butterfly S14. In the same event for the men, William Ellard claimed silver.

Daphne Schrager and Steve Bate won Great Britain's first medals of the day, silver in the women’s 3000m individual pursuit for the former and silver in the men’s 4000m individual pursuit for the latter.

Finally, GB’s bronze came for Bly Twomey and Felicity Pickard, in the women’s table tennis doubles WD14.

GOLD FOR GB - Kearney speaks after winning in swimming

Thursday 29 August 2024 20:20 , Karl Matchett

GB’s Tully Kearney speaks to Channel 4 after claiming gold:

“I’m a bit speechless! In Tokyo I felt I needed redemption and it was definitely that.

“The race was hard, the Ukrainian was so quick and gave me a run for my money. I wasn’t sure where I would be fitness wise so I’m really happy wih that.

“I knew my advantage over these girls would be on the turn, I had to nail the last one and that won me the race.

“I suffered a concussion and struggled recently with my mental health. To be able to still come here and race is incredible.”

Paralympics swimming - GOLD FOR GB!

Thursday 29 August 2024 20:05 , Karl Matchett

Tully Kearney time! She’s in lane four for the Womens 200m freestyle S5 final and the last race of the night.

At the first turn she’s going well, turning second just behind Poida of Ukraine - it’s quickly like one from two unless there’s a big comeback from the chasers.

Kearney is still just a little behind at the mid-point turn but then Kearney turns up the heat - she pulls back the gap and by the time they’ve turned for the final time, the Brit opens up a body-length gap to lead!

There’s a big challenge from her left too but Kearney is digging in and has just about got enough - it’s gold for Great Britain! 2:46.50, just ahead of Poida, Boggioni taking bronze for Italy.

Paralympics swimming

Thursday 29 August 2024 19:58 , Karl Matchett

Before Kearney goes for gold it’s the men’s 200m freestyle S5 final - and Italy’s Francesco Bocciardo retains his Paralympic title with a strong third length, just holding off the challenge of Kirill Pulver - and as well as gold he takes a new Paralympic record. Oleksandr Komarov takes bronze.

Paralympics swimming

Thursday 29 August 2024 19:45 , Karl Matchett

In the women’s 100m butterfly S13, Italy’s Carlotta Gill took gold, just ahead of USA’s Grace Nuhfer.

Next up is the 200m freestyle S5 - and GB’s Tully Kearney will be aiming to claim a medal.

That’s just a couple of minutes away.

GB start defence of wheelchair rugby title

Thursday 29 August 2024 19:20 , Ed Elliot, PA

ParalympicsGB launched their wheelchair rugby title defence with a statement 58-55 victory over world number ones Australia in front of a capacity crowd in Paris.

Great Britain made history at Tokyo 2020 by memorably clinching the nation's first gold in the mixed-gender sport.

Returning champions Aaron Phipps and vice-captain Stuart Robinson claimed 25 and 23 tries respectively to help give their side lift off in Group B ahead of meetings with Denmark and hosts France.

GB led at the end of each quarter at Champ-de-Mars Arena, with captain Gavin Walker, Jonathan Coggan and Games debutants Kieran Flynn and Jack Smith also on the scoresheet.

Results since the landmark triumph in Japan have been mixed during a transitional period made more difficult by rival countries intensifying the competition for major titles.

Britain were twice runners-up to France at the European Championships in that time, in addition to a disappointing seventh-placed finish at the 2022 World Championship

"The first game of any tournament is going to set the tone for it," said Robinson.

"We've had a bit of an up and down time since Tokyo and people probably think they can take advantage of us maybe not being as strong as we thought we were.

"We knew we could exploit Australia and get the little marginal gains so it's a great statement for the rest of the tournament."

Elsewhere, Gregg Warburton claimed 24 points as Britain's men's wheelchair basketball team began with a 76-55 success over Germany in Group A.

Kadeena Cox’s eight-year reign as champion ends in crash

Thursday 29 August 2024 19:00 , Ed Elliot, PA

Kadeena Cox’s eight-year reign as Paralympic C4-5 time trial champion ended in concerning fashion after she crashed in the final at Paris 2024.

British cyclist Cox, who was second fastest in qualifying behind Caroline Groot, fell on the first corner of her medal race after wobbling following a slow start.

Appearing distraught, the 33-year-old, who has multiple sclerosis, hobbled as she was helped from the track by members of the ParalympicsGB team.

Leeds-born Cox was denied a restart as the fall was deemed not to be down to a mechanical fault.

She continued to receive treatment on the floor of the track centre long after the event had finished.

The world record holder had looked odds-on to become GB’s first medallist of the Games following her triumphs at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

Dutch rider Groot subsequently took the title, ahead of French home favourite Marie Patouillet, with Canadian Kate O’Brien third.

ParalympicsGB star shoots PB after early labour scare

Thursday 29 August 2024 18:50 , Ed Elliot, PA

British archer Jodie Grinham spent two days at a Paris maternity ward thinking she may be going into early labour before shooting a personal best at the Paralympics.

The 31-year-old, who is competing in the French capital while 28 weeks pregnant, went to hospital at the weekend after her unborn child stopped moving .

She praised the treatment received and said her baby “is perfectly healthy”, having fired 693 to rank fourth in the women’s compound event on Thursday.

“We were in a position where we were not sure if we were having contractions or if I am starting to dilate a little bit,” she said.

“The baby stopped moving.

“Saturday and Sunday, I was in one of the local maternity wards here in Paris. They were fantastic.

“They were absolutely brilliant. They looked after me really well.

“They said there is no point trying to tell you to rest as you are going to compete but when you are done, you are done.

“At the moment, I feel good, the baby is perfectly healthy, I am healthy. We have to make sure nothing progresses.”

Grinham, who gave birth to son Christian in October 2022, won silver in the compound mixed team competition with John Stubbs at Rio 2016.

She did not require an overnight stay on the ward.

“As soon as competition is done, I will probably go home and see my midwife,” she added.

“If I worked in an office, they would be absolutely fine with me still working until I am 39 weeks.

“So what’s the difference with me competing at seven (months)?”.

Defending champion Phoebe Paterson Pine shot 688 and ranked seventh in the same event, while Victoria Kingstone was sixth in the women’s W1 ahead of Saturday’s head-to-head matches.

Klopp in Paris to watch friend at Paralympics

Thursday 29 August 2024 18:40 , Julien Pretot, Reuters

Jurgen Klopp was famous for inspiring comebacks, but even the former Liverpool manager is amazed by his friend Wojtek Czyz who battled back from an horrific football injury to become a multiple paralympic champion.

Klopp was in the stands at La Chapelle Arena on Thursday to support his 44-year-old friend as he competed in the badminton competition at Paris 2024.

The pair have known each other for more than 20 years after Czyz, a four-time Paralympic champion in athletics who has switched to compete in badminton for New Zealand, suffered the injury that not only ended his football career but led to his leg being amputated.

Klopp was far from a lucky charm, for his friend, who lost 21-5 21-2 against Briton Daniel Bethell, the second seed, but the Champions League winning coach knew this one was one of the rare occasions in sport when the result is less important than taking part.

“I couldn’t be prouder of him. Yesterday we were standing in front of the Eiffel Tower and we thought wow, it’s super, super special,” Klopp said.

“That’s another thing being here I sit next to his incredible wife Elena, and we both had tears in our eyes, because I know sport is always about results, about winning, but that’s much more behind that story and being here, it’s always so touching that I couldn’t get my head around it.”

Czyz had been a promising footballer when he signed for Fortuna Koln in 2001, but he suffered a dreadful knee injury in a collision with a goalkeeper, which caused multiple fractures. His treatment was delayed and his leg had to be amputated.

Klopp and Czyz met at a charity match during the player’s recovery and the pair became friends.

“The beginning of the story is for sure slightly different because that was the accident, the amputation, then he was a super professional athlete and it was not a time where we were really close. Then we met in 2015 before I joined Liverpool at the harbour in Lisbon, I was on holidays,” Klopp recalled.

“We were playing frisbee,” said Czyz, who was then about to set sail as part of his campaign for his association, Sailing4Handicaps, whose goal is to help amputees get prosthetics for free.

“It was destiny,” said Klopp, who praised his friend’s journey.

“It’s the most inspiring I’ve heard in my life, this story has to be told. It has to be.”

Czyz, however, is not sure if he wants Klopp to attend his next match.

“I have to think about it because today was not such a success for me, maybe he’s a curse,” Czyz joked.

“I enjoyed all five points, Klopp, who left Liverpool at the end of last season after a trophy-laden nine years on Merseyside, replied with a big laugh.

Yet Czyz welcomed Klopp’s presence at the Games, as it helped to draw media attention to para sports, if only for a day.

“Juergen’s presence is a great statement and it makes me prouder of him,” he said, praising Klopp for his advice.

“Ten years ago, I would maybe now break all my rackets (after losing), but now I am understanding what is happening. I am patient now, but for sure, this was not the result I wanted today, right? And this is what I learned from Juergen,” he explained.

“You have to keep going, you can lose, if you lose and you gave it all, then be happy with yourself.”

Asked if he had learned anything from Czyz, Klopp joked: “He’s too crazy. We are completely different. He’s doing things I’m not brave enough to do. He told me yesterday how easy it is to dive with sharks,” the German said with his trademark grin.

SILVER! Will Ellard touched out for S14 100m butterfly victory

Thursday 29 August 2024 17:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A cracking swim from Will Ellard but it’s not quite enough for the British teenager! Alexander Hillhouse of Denmark comes from nowhere to touch out the 18-year-old for men’s S14 100m butterfly gold. Gabriel Bandeira, Brazil’s world record holder, has to settle for bronze.

The uber-talented Ellard will be pack in the pool later in the Games.

ParalympicsGB has immense experience – but that also highlights the challenge at Paris 2024

Thursday 29 August 2024 17:35 , Tom Harle in Paris

Experience is not in short supply in the ranks of ParalympicsGB and that is not necessarily a good thing.

Paris 2024 will see records tumble when it comes to longevity and while all remarkable achievements individually, they are best served with a note of caution.

Before London 2012, no athlete had represented ParalympicsGB eight times; in Paris, we will see three golden oldies who have done so.

ParalympicsGB has immense experience – but that highlights challenge of Paris 2024

Kadeena Cox speaks to Channel 4 after crashing out

Thursday 29 August 2024 17:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

“I went down on my knee which is sore,” Cox says after missing out on a third consecutive C4-5 time trial success. “My MS [multiple sclerosis] - my tone was bad and that doesn’t help when you try to ride a bicycle.

“It was a weird one. I didn’t feel comfortable in the gate, my right side is my weak side - I just over compensated and couldn’t balance on my weaker side, I was all over the shop.

“I thought I might have got a restart.”

“”I got back on the bike two weeks ago. It has been a rubbish year, this time last year I couldn’t walk as I had a relapse which effected my right side - I guess that’s MS.

“The fact I got here is amazing. I wasn’t able to qualify for the athletics due to the injuries I suffered. The boys will count on me [in the mixed team sprint on Sunday] getting out there and delivering a quick lap.

“It has been a rough week and I have been struggling with my mental health. I’ll speak to my psych - I don’t want to let the boys down.”

Will Bayley and Martin Perry through to quarter-finals

Thursday 29 August 2024 17:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Will Bayley and Martin Perry of Great Britain are through to the MD14 tabe tennis quarter-finals tomorrow after securing a straight sets (11-9, 11-4, 11-9) win against Germany’s Bjorn Schnake and Thomas Rau.

“The atmosphere reminds me of London 2012. I was sitting in the stands this morning watching the girls play and it was special,” Bayley said afterwards. “I was just thinking to myself ‘I can’t wait to get out there’ and it felt special to be out there.

“Tomorrow will feel even more special, playing the best doubles team the French have put out in this competition [the number two seeds]. That’s going to be really exciting and I can’t wait for that.“I’m so happy with the way we played. We said beforehand we just needed to do what we do and do the basics we’d be hard to beat. We didn’t overcomplicate it and that’s what we do, we try to get the win without any drama. We did well to stay on task and we played really well.”

Will Bayley putting mental wellbeing first in bid for ‘ultimate achievement’

Gold for France in the pool

Thursday 29 August 2024 16:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The La Defense Arena is jumping again with Ugo Didier storming down the final length to take the men’s S9 400m freestyle. Didier is one of the faces of these Paris Paralympics, and is from Toulouse, like Leon Marchand.

Simone Barlaam of Italy wins silver; Australia’s Brenden Hall bronze.

Jurgen Klopp urges broadcasters to show more of ‘wonderful’ Paralympics

Thursday 29 August 2024 16:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Jurgen Klopp likened the Paralympics opening ceremony to a Taylor Swift concert as he called for greater coverage of the Games after watching his long-time friend Wojtek Czyz play badminton at Paris 2024.

Former Liverpool boss Klopp regards Czyz’s story as the most inspiring he has ever heard and was a high-profile spectator on court one of the La Chapelle Arena on Thursday afternoon.

Czyz had his left leg amputated after breaking his knee in a collision with a goalkeeper while playing football in 2001 before becoming a four-time Paralympic champion for Germany in athletics.

Jurgen Klopp urges broadcasters to show more of ‘wonderful’ Paralympics

Steve Bate on winning individual pursuit silver

Thursday 29 August 2024 16:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle

“We had a great day,” Bate tells Channel 4. “Our target coming here was to try and put the Dutch under pressure. They’ve been the best for the past three years - we’ve beaten them once, because they crashed. They’ve won every competition bar that one. They have just proven today how good they are. We’ve ridden a massive PB, faster than we thought we were going to go in both rides.”

Paralympics 2024: Steve Bate wins second Great Britain SILVER on opening afternoon

Thursday 29 August 2024 16:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s another silver for ParalympicsGB. Just as in Tokyo, Tristan Bangma and his pilot TPatrick Bos show their class, taking an early advantage and only widening it from there. They retain their title.

Steve Bate wins Olympic medal number five; pilot Chris Latham earns his first.

Paralympics 2024: Steve Bate chases gold

Thursday 29 August 2024 16:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Off they go for 16 laps of the track, a rematch of the Tokyo final. Tristan Bangma and Patrick Bos were too strong then - but don’t rule out the British pair.

Paralympics 2024: Another British medal hope on the track

Thursday 29 August 2024 16:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The final medal races of the afternoon are underway at the velodrome, the men’s B 4000m individual pursuit concluding the opening day’s action. Steve Bate and his pilot Chris Latham take on Tristan Bangma and Patrick Bos of the Netherlands for gold, Bate looking to add to the four medals he won with Adam Duggleby as his partner.

Kadeena Cox crashes out of C4-5 time trial medal race

Thursday 29 August 2024 16:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Kadeena Cox’s eight-year reign as Paralympic C4-5 time trial champion ended in concerning fashion after she crashed in the final at Paris 2024.

British cyclist Cox, who was second fastest in qualifying behind Caroline Groot, fell on the first corner of her medal race after wobbling following a slow start.

Appearing distraught, the 33-year-old, who has multiple sclerosis, hobbled as she was helped from the track by members of the ParalympicsGB team.

Kadeena Cox crashes out of C4-5 time trial medal race

Daphne Schrager speaks to Channel 4 after winning cycling silver

Thursday 29 August 2024 15:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle

“It’s just incredible. A year ago, I didn’t think I’d be on the bike again after I crashed, so to come here and break the world record was all I could do. Sadly, it wasn’t enough. I’m always someone that is hungry for more, but I can walk away happy.

“It’s been hard, but I’m really happy winning the first medal of the Games. To come away with a medal at all is such a privilege - there’s so many people back home who would have loved to be here but didn’t get selected, so I feel honoured to ride here.

“Kadeena [Cox] was one of the first people who got me into cycling, and we’ve been really close throughout the whole process. I’m gutted for her, and I hoped we’d have a podium picture together. But sometimes sport is that way.”

Paralympics 2024: Daphne Schrager wins SILVER in women’s individual pursuit

Thursday 29 August 2024 15:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Decisive and dominant from Wang Xiaomei, taking another three seconds of the world record she set this morning and very, very nearly reeling in Daphne Schrager on the final lap. The Chinese riders wins by nine seconds but Schrager secures silver, the first ParalympicsGB medal of the Games.

Flurina Rigling of Switzerland takes bronze.

Paralympics 2024: Daphne Schrager goes for gold

Thursday 29 August 2024 15:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Right, back to the Velodrome, where Daphne Schrager is taking on Wang Xiaomei in the women’s C1-3 3000m individual pursuit final. Both of them set world records in their respective classifications in qualifying this morning - but Schrager has work to do nearing the halfway point of the race...

Sarah Storey, Hannah Cockcroft and 10 of Britain’s big medal hopes at the Paris Paralympics

Thursday 29 August 2024 15:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

ParalympicsGB travel to the Paris Games seeking to emulate the fine form which saw the team finish second in the medal table at Tokyo 2020.

Here are 10 of Britain’s best hopes for gold.

Sarah Storey, Hannah Cockcroft and Britain’s big medal hopes at the Paris Paralympics

Paralympics 2024: Kadeena Cox crashes out as first medals of the Games awarded

Thursday 29 August 2024 15:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Supreme stuff from Caroline Groot, not quite as rapid as her world record but speedy enough to grab gold. Marie Patouillet of France snares silver; Canada’s Kate O’Brien wins bronze.

A distraught Kadeena Cox misses out on a medal having completed about five pedal strokes, with the race commissaires concluding that the issue was not mechanical. Awful for her.

Paralympics 2024: Kadeena Cox crashes in final

Thursday 29 August 2024 15:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

This isn’t looking good for Kadeena Cox. The British rider is close to tears as she chats with her team, in a bit of pain after that heavy fall and perhaps not able to go again.

It appears she may be done. Caroline Groot of the Netherlands is out on the track.

Paralympics 2024: Kadeena Cox crashes in final

Thursday 29 August 2024 15:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Disaster for Kadeena Cox, never managing to find stability as she tried to power out of the gate and eventually forced to hit the deck. She will get a restart if it is a mechanical issue, assuming she is ok - her coach and a medic help her back to the centre of the velodrome while the British mechanics check her bike over.

Paralympics 2024: Kadeena Cox goes for gold

Thursday 29 August 2024 14:57 , Harry Latham-Coyle

An outstanding ride from France’s Marie Patouillet, fourth in Tokyo and guaranteed a medal here having absolutely flown around the final lap with the home crowd roaring her on.

Two riders to come. Kadeena Cox is next up...

Paralympics 2024: Kadeena Cox goes for gold

Thursday 29 August 2024 14:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The first of the finalists has completed her time trial, Nicole Murray of New Zealand clocking a 37.425s. As a C5 rider, 100% of her time counts; C4 riders like Kadeena Cox, who will be the penultimate rider to climb on to her bike, have a factor percentage of 98.67, so their time will be knocked down slightly.

Competing is the easy bit – Kadeena Cox out to add to Paralympic medal haul

Thursday 29 August 2024 14:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Four-time Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox insists “competing is the easy bit” as she bids to win Great Britain’s maiden medal of Paris 2024 following a series of injury setbacks.

The dual-sport athlete is competing solely on track cycling at the third Games of her career having excelled on both the bike and as a sprinter across Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

Cox, who has multiple sclerosis, tore a calf muscle late last year and then suffered a recurrence of the Achilles issues which hindered her athletics performance in Japan, prior to another recent fitness setback.

Competing is the easy bit – Kadeena Cox out to add to Paralympic medal haul

To the velodrome...

Thursday 29 August 2024 14:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s a busy afternoon of track cycling finals coming up, with three real British gold medal contenders. Daphne Schrager goes at about 3.30pm and Steve Bate and pilot Chris Latham three-quarters of an hour later - but first, it’s Kadeena Cox in the women’s C4-5 500m time trial in 20 mintues time.

Patrick Wilson wins battle of the Brits in boccia

Thursday 29 August 2024 14:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

An all-British clash in the men’s BC3 boccia has ended with Patrick Wilson beating teammate Will Arnott to an opening win. A four-point third end opened a strong lead for Wilson, and though Arnott managed to dislodge his opponent’s scoring red ball with his last shot in the final end, he could only score two. It ends 5-3.

Para triathlon schedule changed over River Seine water quality fears

Thursday 29 August 2024 14:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Para triathlon events at the Paris Games, where the swimming leg is being held in the River Seine, will take place on 1 September instead of across two days because of the weather forecast, organisers said on Thursday.

At the Olympics, triathlon events and training sessions were subjected to some reshuffling as adverse weather conditions led to a spike in bacteria levels in the Seine.

“All 11 medal events will now take place on 1 September, instead of across two days, on 1 and 2 September,” Paris 2024 said in a statement.

“The decision to hold all medal events on one day was taken in view of the weather forecast and to provide athletes and coaches with as much certainty as possible. The course of the swim remains unchanged.”

The French capital has been working on cleaning up the Seine so people can swim in it again, as was the case during the 1900 Paris Olympics. A sewer problem last summer, however, led to the cancellation of a pre-Olympics swimming event.

All triathlon events at the Olympics, however, were held with the swimming leg in the Seine.

Paralympics 2024: Jodie Grinham competes in archery

Thursday 29 August 2024 13:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The ranking round of the women’s individual compound archery is well underway, with Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham competing while pregnant with her second child. At 28 weeks, Grinham is believed to the furthest into her term of any British Paralympian in history:

Jodie Grinham hopes to inspire other women by competing in Paris while pregnant

Paralympics 2024: Great Britain dominate wheelchair basketball opener

Thursday 29 August 2024 13:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Smooth sailing for ParalympicsGB’s wheelchair basketball players today - it finishes 69-34 in the favour of Great Britain’s women at Bercy Arena with Spain unable to top ten points in any quarter. A double double for Robyn Love with 16 points and 19 rebounds in the win, while Jade Atkin showed off her sharp shooting off the bench, going eight for 11 from the field on her way to 19 points.

Daphne Schrager shatters world record

Thursday 29 August 2024 13:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A lightning quick time in qualifying from Great Britain’s Daphne Schrager - having just lost her C2 world record in the 3000m Individual Pursuit, the 22-year-old has gone six seconds faster than her previous mark. A time of 3:45.133 is only good for second in the overall category, though, with China’s Wang Xiaomei lowering the C3 world record - the pair will meet in the gold medal final at 3.41pm BST.

ParalympicsGB launch winning defence of wheelchair rugby title against Australia

Thursday 29 August 2024 13:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

ParalympicsGB launched their wheelchair rugby title defence with a statement 58-55 victory over world number ones Australia in front of a capacity crowd in Paris.

Great Britain made history at Tokyo 2020 by memorably clinching the nation’s first gold in the mixed-gender sport.

Returning champions Aaron Phipps and vice-captain Stuart Robinson claimed 25 and 23 tries respectively to help give their side lift off in Group B ahead of meetings with Denmark and hosts France.

ParalympicsGB launch winning defence of wheelchair rugby title against Australia

Great Britain cruising against Spain

Thursday 29 August 2024 13:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s getting better and better for the Brits over at Bercy Arena - Great Britain’s women are in complete control of their opening wheelchair basketball encounter with Spain, extending an already sizeable advantage in the third quarter.

The Paralympics opening ceremony was a perfect stage to celebrate the sporting drama still to come

Thursday 29 August 2024 12:52 , James Toney in Paris

Just days before Paralympians last gathered for their Winter Games in Beijing, Russian tanks rolled across the border into Ukraine.

One year later Yevhenii Korinets, from Zhytomyr Oblast on the border of Belarus, lost his leg during a bitter fire fight in Minkivka.

Life can come at you faster than a double amputee sprinter on carbon-fibre blades sometimes, with Korinets making his Paralympic debut as a sitting volleyball player this week.

Six years ago, Canadian rower Jacob Wassermann was paralysed from the waist down in a bus crash that claimed the lives of 16 of his junior ice hockey teammates. Australian table tennis hope Ma Lin was just five years old when his right arm was eaten by a brown bear during a family trip to a zoo in China.

And then there is Ibrahim Hamadtou, a double arm amputee who plays table tennis with the bat in his mouth, and Iran’s sitting volleyball star Morteza Mehrzad, at eight foot the world’s second tallest man, whose right leg is 15 centimetres shorter than his left.

The Paralympics opening ceremony set the stage for the sports drama to come

WATCH: Paralympic cauldron lit in Paris signalling start of games

Thursday 29 August 2024 12:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s struggles to Paris ‘absolute disgrace’ – GB chief

Thursday 29 August 2024 12:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

ParalympicsGB chef de mission Penny Briscoe branded Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s struggles to reach Paris 2024 an “absolute disgrace” and feels the episode encapsulates the daily difficulties endured by disabled people.

Former wheelchair racer Grey-Thompson, an 11-time Paralympic champion, was forced to drag herself off a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train service on Monday because no staff were there to help.

The 55-year-old was travelling from Leeds to London – en route to the French capital – and posted a series of messages about her experience on social media.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s struggles to Paris ‘absolute disgrace’ – GB chief

Paralympics 2024: Great Britain’s women swelling lead in wheelchair basketball

Thursday 29 August 2024 12:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There was success for the ParalympicsGB men earlier at the Bercy Arena, and the women are firmly on course to match their squadmates with a win. It’s a commanding 33-17 lead for the Brits over Spain approaching the end of the second quarter.

David Weir ready to take down ‘phenomenal’ Paralympics rival thanks to mystery benefactor

Thursday 29 August 2024 12:10 , James Toney in Paris

David Weir believes he’s ready to go faster than ever at the Paris Paralympics thanks to a mystery benefactor who bought him a state-of-the-art racing wheelchair.

It’s fair to say Weir, a six-time Paralympic champion, has cut a disillusioned figure at recent Games.

After his three golds in London, he was left raging in Rio, claiming a member of the team accused him of ‘throwing a race’ and vowing never compete for Britain again.

Back five years later in Tokyo, he was well off the pace, insisting he’d never compete on the track again as he couldn’t be competitive with Switzerland’s Marcel Hug, because of a lack of investment in his racing chair.

There’s always been a sense that Weir is fuelled by a raging sense of injustice, whether it’s lack of recognition, lack of prize money or lack of respect.

He is one of those athletes that can’t be media trained, now competing at his seventh Paralympics he’s certainly earned the right to say what he likes.

How David Weir’s mystery benefactor has closed gap to ‘phenomenal’ Paralympics rival

Great Britain knock off wheelchair rugby world champions

Thursday 29 August 2024 11:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Fierce, furious and fast from Great Britain at the Grand Palais Ephemere, the defending Olympic champions 58-55 victors over Australia in a clash of the reigning Olympic and world champions.

Zambian Paralympians set to compete despite delegation not confirming plans

Thursday 29 August 2024 11:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Here’s a strange story from overnight: Zambia are expected to take part in the Paris Paralympics despite being omitted from the opening ceremony after they failed to confirm that they were travelling to the Games.

The Zambia flag was nowhere to be seen as the athletes paraded down the Champs Elysees to the Place de la Concorde on Wednesday in an event attended by some 50,000 people in a joyful atmosphere.

“The Zambia flag was not included in the parade. No one has arrived yet, we’ve had zero communication in the last few days so we told them if you don’t confirm your travelling (plans) and show us your tickets, we will remove the flag,” IPC spokesperson Craig Spence told a press conference.

“We had nothing but this morning in our inbox was proof that they were coming,” Spence added, without elaborating on the date of arrival of the Zambia delegation.

Competing is the easy bit – Kadeena Cox out to add to Paralympic medal haul

Thursday 29 August 2024 11:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Four-time Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox insists “competing is the easy bit” as she bids to win Great Britain’s maiden medal of Paris 2024 following a series of injury setbacks.

The dual-sport athlete is focussing solely on track cycling at the third Games of her career having excelled on both the bike and as a sprinter across Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

Competing is the easy bit – Kadeena Cox out to add to Paralympic medal haul

Kadeena Cox qualifies second fastest into C4-5 time trial final

Thursday 29 August 2024 11:26 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A solid ride from Kadeena Cox as she acquaints herself with the Paris velodrome, the multisport star very much in the mix and into this afternoon’s final as the second fastest qualifer.

The only woman quicker over the 500 metres is Caroline Groot, who smashes the world record. The Dutch rider has five world titles in this discipline in the C5 classification.

“That was the most horrendous leg ever, but we got through,” Cox tells Channel 4. “I’m excited.”

Wheelchair rugby underway

Thursday 29 August 2024 11:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s tight between Australia and Great Britain halfway through their first wheelchair rugby group game, just a point in it with the British defending champions 28-27 ahead. Australia beat GB on their way to the world title in Denmark in 2022.

Great Britain underway with a win

Thursday 29 August 2024 11:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A fabulous finish and a sizeable win for Great Britain’s men at Bercy Arena, powering clear of Germany with a 24-point final quarter to get their pursuit of another wheelchair basketball medal underway impressively.

Tully Kearney fastest qualifier for women’s 200m S5 freestyle

Thursday 29 August 2024 10:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Tully Kearney is one of only two returning British Paralympic champions in the pool, the 27-year-old set to defend her 100m freestyle title later in the Games. It was silver in the 200m in Tokyo for Kearney, but she is the world record holder and clear of the field in the third and final heat to qualify fastest into tonight’s final.

Great Britain extend wheelchair basketball lead against Germany

Thursday 29 August 2024 10:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

An excellent end to the third quarter from Great Britain, a long two drained by Gregg Warburton before the giant Lee Manning navigated neatly to the paint to beat the buzzer. It’s a ten point advantage with one quarter to come.

Jonnie Peacock piles pressure on his rivals as he targets a third Paralympic title

Thursday 29 August 2024 10:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Former Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock declared he is now “the hunter” as he questioned whether his sprint rivals can handle the pressure of Paris 2024.

British poster boy Peacock is seeking to complete a hat-trick of 100m golds at the fourth Games of his glittering career after settling for joint bronze in crowd-free Tokyo following title successes at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

The 31-year-old, who runs in the T64 heats on Sunday – a day before the final, feels he is “a man amongst boys” in the French capital due to his greater experience.

Jonnie Peacock piles pressure on his rivals as he targets a third Paralympic title

David Smith wins opening boccia match

Thursday 29 August 2024 10:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A 5-2 win to kick off the campaign for David Smith, the defending champion too good for experienced Brazilian Jose Carlos Chagas de Oliveira, who he beat at the semi-final stage in Tokyo.

Great Britain lead Germany in wheelchair basketball

Thursday 29 August 2024 10:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle

ParalympicsGB’s men are also live medal contenders in the wheelchair basketball, and they are off to a good start over at Bercy Arena - a strong first quarter saw them surge in front against Germany, who hit back a little before half-time but still trail 32-25 at the interval. The women take on Spain a little later.

Wheelchair rugby captain Gavin Walker confident GB are ‘peaking at right time’

Thursday 29 August 2024 10:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Great Britain will begin the defence of their wheelchair rugby gold shortly against major contenders Australia, the reigning world champions and top seeds. British captain Gavin Walker is confident, though, that his squad can go back-to-back:

Wheelchair rugby captain Gavin Walker confident GB are ‘peaking at right time’

Two British swimmers into S14 100m butterfly final

Thursday 29 August 2024 10:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A solid swim from Olivia Newman-Baronius, fading a touch down the final 25 metres but safely into the final of the women’s S14 100m butterfly after finishing second in her heat. Newman-Baronius equalled the world record earlier this year, but faces tough opposition in the form of teammate Poppy Maskill - it’s a rapid two lengths of the pool from 19-year-old, who wins her heat and joins Newman-Baronius in the final.

Boccia champion David Smith ‘raring to go’ as he bids to complete Paralympic three-peat

Thursday 29 August 2024 09:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

One of those medal contenders is in action this morning - double Olympic boccia champion David Smith begins his quest for a third consecutive crown in the men’s BC1, the Brit again sporting his trademark red and blue mohawk. He’s in a tough Pool A with two fellow Olympic medallists, with Smith warning ahead of the games that the competition should be particularly strong in Paris.

Boccia champion David Smith ‘raring to go’ as he bids to secure Paralympic three-peat

Sarah Storey, Hannah Cockcroft and 10 of Britain’s big medal hopes at the Paris Paralympics

Thursday 29 August 2024 09:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

ParalympicsGB travel to the Paris Games seeking to emulate the fine form which saw the team finish second in the medal table at Tokyo 2020.

Here are10 of Britain’s best hopes for gold:

Sarah Storey, Hannah Cockcroft and Britain’s big medal hopes at the Paris Paralympics

The Paralympics opening ceremony was a perfect stage to celebrate the sporting drama still to come

Thursday 29 August 2024 09:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The weather played ball for the opening ceremony in the heart of Paris last night, showing off the city’s spectacular sights. James Toney was there:

The Paralympics opening ceremony set the stage for the sports drama to come

Paris 2024 Paralympics schedule and day-by-day events

Thursday 29 August 2024 09:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s going to be a hectic 10 days across the 22 sports at Paris 2024 - here’s the full schedule:

Paris 2024 Paralympics schedule and day-by-day events

Paralympics 2024: Day one

Thursday 29 August 2024 09:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A very good morning and welcome along to LIVE coverage of the opening day of the 2024 Paris Paralympics. After a captivating opening ceremony, the medal action gets underway with a doozy of a day that will see 22 Paralympic champions crowned.