The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will be held from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8 and will host more than 4,000 athletes from all over the world. The Paralympics specifically highlights athletes with physical disabilities, providing a platform for these people to showcase their athleticism and physical talents.
Similar to the Olympics held a few weeks ago, the Paralympics brings together athletes to compete in 549 events across 22 different sports, according to The International Paralympic Committee. Paralympic events include track, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, rowing, and more.
“I think the Paralympic Games are so inspirational,” said sophomore Lela Nachury-Reif. “It’s amazing what some of these athletes are able to achieve,”
The last Paralympic Summer Games, hosted in Tokyo in 2021, were delayed because of COVID-19, but still hosted a myriad of sports and lots of competition. In 2021, the USA won the gold medal in wheelchair basketball, and Great Britain won many rowing titles, according to The Paralympic Committee. Sitting volleyball is another popular sport, where the United States won the gold in 2021 with China in second.
“I think the Paralympics need more viewership and focus in the media,” volleyball coach Kurtis Wong said. “It’s a really cool display of determination and shows people overcoming their individual challenges and still being accomplished athletes—I’ve never watched much sitting volleyball, but I should to see how it compares to the regular sport,”
Paralympic athletes train for their entire lives to compete and win at these competitions. For example, Trischa Zorn holds the record for the Paralympic athlete with the most gold medals, with 41 in total. Zorn started swimming competitively in the Paralympics in 1980 and went on to compete and win many medals for the next 24 years, according to The United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum. Although now retired, Zorn will continue to be recognized as she was inducted into The United States Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2022.
“After learning about Trischa Zorn, I was very impressed as she has set such a high record,” Nachury-Reif said. “Her and all the other athletes are outstanding and I think this year the games will be a must-watch.”
