ParalympicsGB announces wheelchair basketball squads for Paris 2024

With less than 50 days to go until the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games get underway, ParalympicsGB can announce the men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball squads.

Across both teams, five debutants are set to make their first ever appearance in a Paralympic Games. On the men’s team, Lee Fryer and Peter Cusack join the ranks of seasoned athletes including 2018 World champions Lee Manning, Simon Brown, Harry Brown, Phil Pratt, Gregg Warburton, Abdi Jama, Jim Palmer and Terry Bywater. 2023 European gold medallists Kyle Marsh and Ben Fox complete the squad.

Middlesbrough born Bywater, set to compete in his seventh Paralympic Games, commented on his selection: “It feels absolutely amazing to be going to my seventh Paralympic Games – it’s a dream come true for anybody to make it to one Games, never mind seven. My number on the back of my shirt is seven so that’s pretty crazy! It’s a very proud moment for me and my family.

“From now until Paris the team will be enjoying the journey. We’re going to be focused, we’re going to be prepared, we’re going to be united, we’re going to give it absolutely everything across these next two months to arrive in the best form possible. We believe that we are the best team in the world, and we’ll be hoping to take that gold medal.”

Making their debut for ParalympicsGB’s women’s team are 2023 European silver medallists Jade Atkin and Maddie Martin, and newcomer Jodie Waite. Leading from the front are 2018 World Championship silver medallists Robyn Love, Sophie Carrigill, Charlotte Moore, Laurie Williams, Joy Haizelden, Amy Conroy and Helen Freeman. Freeman’s selection makes this her fifth Games, having debuted at Beijing 2008. Rio 2016 Paralympian Katie Morrow and Tokyo 2020 debutant Lucy Robinson complete the line-up.

Scotland’s Robyn Love commented: “I am immensely proud to be representing ParalympicsGB at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games – I really do think any opportunity to put on that GB vest is just one that I am truly grateful for.

“London 2012 was the first time I ever saw disability sport and here I am entering my third Paralympic Games! It’s a dream come true, and to get to do it at a Games so close to home and in a European time zone with my daughter, my family and my friends supporting me is just going to be incredible.

“In terms of preparation, we are fine-tuning, focusing on us. We know the schedule, we know the groups, so just fine-tuning the details – and I am getting used to a new chair at the same time! Getting the details dialled in throughout our preparations… no doubt in my mind, we are ready for it.”

ParalympicsGB men look to claim an elusive gold medal, having previously won five bronze and three silver, while the women’s squad are headed to the Games with their sights on making history by obtaining their first ever Paralympic medal.

Penny Briscoe, Chef de Mission at ParalympicsGB for Paris 2024, commented:

“Both squads boast an impressive blend of seasoned Paralympic Games veterans and exciting debutants. Many of the men’s and women’s players have already made a significant impact on the World and European stages in recent years. Now, both squads are looking to make their own history in Paris.

“The skill, speed, and excitement of this sport are set to captivate audiences across the globe, and we can’t wait to see them in action this summer.”

Wheelchair basketball will take place on all 11 days of competition in the Bercy Arena.

A total of around 220 athletes from 19 sports are expected to make up the British team that will compete in Paris, with further names to be announced by ParalympicsGB in the coming weeks. At Tokyo 2020 ParalympicsGB won medals across a record breaking 18 different sports - the highest number of any nation ever. ParalympicsGB finished second on the medal table with 124 medals overall, including 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze.

Diccon Edwards, Performance Director at British Wheelchair Basketball and Team Leader for wheelchair basketball at Paris 2024, commented: ”I am excited we have such talented squads to represent ParalympicsGB in Paris. It was incredibly hard to make the selections given the quality and depth across both squads and now the selected players have the opportunity to achieve something special for the whole group and inspire the next generation of wheelchair basketball players.

“We are fortunate to have a core of senior players across both squads who have experience of the Paralympic Games and are supporting new players in preparing for what will be a very special event. We have learnt a lot over the last 12 months from the Worlds and Europeans in 2023, and are fully focused on applying what we have learnt to deliver our best performances yet in Paris.”