19 August 2021
ParalympicsGB finalises team for Tokyo 2020
ParalympicsGB confirms highest ratio of female athletes for Tokyo 2020
ParalympicsGB has confirmed the highest ever percentage of female athletes will compete at a Summer Games when the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games begin on August 24th.
Last week’s delegation registration meeting (DRM) in Tokyo confirmed that a total of 227 athletes will represent ParalympicsGB in 19 of the 22 Paralympic sports, a figure which includes guides, pilots and competition partners.
Robyn Love, wheelchair basketball
The hundred
With 100 female athletes selected, ParalympicsGB will have the greatest gender parity ever at a Summer Paralympics (44%) – this compares with 40% female representation at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
The most decorated athlete on the team is Dame Sarah Storey who has won 14 gold, eight silver and three bronze medals in swimming and cycling since making her Games debut at Barcelona 1992. She is Great Britain’s most successful female Paralympian and will be competing at her eighth Games equalling the record held by Di Coates.
Penny Briscoe, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission at Tokyo 2020, said: “I am delighted to confirm the ParalympicsGB team will feature 227 supremely talented athletes and has reached the highest representation of female athletes ever at a summer Paralympic games, a milestone we should all be incredibly proud of.”
I am sure there will be many memorable moments to celebrate as the media spotlight shines once again on our incredible and inspirational athletes.
Unprecedented times
“It is an absolute honour and a privilege to be Chef de Mission at Tokyo 2020 and I feel very confident that this will be a highly competitive ParalympicsGB team that will inspire the nation once again. ParalympicsGB has a proud history and has finished in the top three on the medal table at the last six Paralympic Games. I am sure there will be many memorable moments to celebrate as the media spotlight shines once again on our incredible and inspirational athletes.
“It has been a monumental effort from athletes and their support teams to get to this stage and I want to take this opportunity to recognise their individual and collective resilience and dedication to continue preparing for the Games during these unprecedented times.”
Jack Shephard, badminton
Youth and experience
Taekwondo and Badminton are the sports making their debut at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The youngest athlete on the team will be 17-year-old Swimmer Ellie Challis while Archer John Stubbs will be the oldest member of the team at 56.
The team is packed with experience with 142 returning Paralympians and 43 Paralympic champions, while Canoe’s Jeanette Chippington has competed in Games across five decades – Tokyo will be her seventh Games. She is a 13-time Paralympic medallist and made her debut for the British team at Seoul 1988 as a swimmer.
Thomas Young, Para athletics
ParalympicsGB will look to be competitive across all sports and is seeking to match the incredible milestone in Rio 2016 where 15 Paralympic Sports won a medal: (Tennis, Fencing, Basketball, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Swimming, Sailing, Rowing, Powerlifting, Equestrian, Cycling, Canoe, Boccia, Athletics and Archery)
ParalympicsGB captured the imagination of the British public at London 2012 winning 120 medals in front of sell-out crowds with countless memorable performances.
The team eclipsed that performance at Rio 2016 winning an outstanding 147 medals including 64 golds to finish second in the overall medal table. The rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be staged from 24 August to 5 September.
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