Supporting Champions!

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will be remembered for the incredible feats of 151 athletes from 43 countries who competed in athletics, swimming, and table tennis. For many, it was their first Paralympic Games, and they took full advantage of the opportunity to shine. These athletes, who are often overlooked, made history, broke world records and inspired millions around the globe.

Here’s just a few of the successes:

Sabrina Fortune (GBR): Sabrina broke the World Record in the F20 Women’s Shot Put with a massive throw of 15.12m, earning her a gold medal. She had also claimed gold at Kobe 2024 and silver at Rio 2016.

Ben Sandilands (GBR): In a breathtaking performance, Paralympics debutant Ben Sandilands from Great Britain shattered the World Record in the T20 Men’s 1500m with a time of 3:45.40.

Aysel Onder (TUR): In the T20 Women’s 400m semifinals, Aysel broke the World Record with a time of 54.96s, securing her spot in the finals. Aysel claimed the silver in the finals, losing the gold by an inch to the Ukrainian, Yullia Shulliar.

Oleksandr Yarovyi (UKR): Oleksandr obliterated the F20 Men’s Shot Put World Record twice, finishing with a gold-medal-winning throw of 17.61m.

Alexander Hillhouse (DEN): Newbie Alexander broke the Paralympic record in the S14 Men’s 100m Freestyle with a time of 54.61 sec.

Poppy Maskill (GBR): Nineteen-year-old Poppy set a new World Record in the S14 Women’s 100m Butterfly, clocking an impressive 1:03.00. Poppy Maskill took five medals, three gold and two silver from her first Paralympic Games.

William Ellards (GBR): William broke both the World Record in the S14 Men’s 200m Freestyle with a time of 1:51.30. He also won silver in the S14 100m Butterfly. William was also competing in his first Paralympic Games at Paris 2024.

Benjamin Hance (AUS): Benjamin rewrote history in the pool, setting a new World Record in the S14 100m Backstroke with 56.52 sec. He also too silver in the S14 4x100m Mixed relay.

Nicholas Bennett (CAN): Nicholas set a new Paralympic Record in the SM14 200m Individual Medley, finishing at 2:06.05. Bennett also claimed Canada’s first Gold medal at Paris 2024 and added a second gold from the S14 Men’s 100m Breaststroke and silver from the S14 200m Freestyle.

Wada Natsuki (JPN): In a historic moment, Wada became the first Japanese woman to win a Paralympic gold medal in Para Table Tennis, competing in the Class 11 Singles at Paris 2024. She made history not just by winning her first Paralympic medal from her first Paralympic games, but by becoming a trailblazer for her country.

Yovanni Philippe (MRI): Yovanni made history for Mauritius, winning a bronze medal in the men’s 400m T20 event—marking the nation’s first-ever Paralympic medal podium finish. Yovanni too was making Paralympic Games debut at Paris 2024.

Deepthi Jeevanji (IND): Deepthi, the silver medalist from the 2023 Virtus Global Games, became the first Indian athlete with an intellectual impairment to win a Paralympic medal. Her time of 55.82 seconds in the T20 Women’s 400m earned her a historic bronze medal.

Barbara Bieganowska-Zajac (POL): Barbara becomes the first athlete with an intellectual impairment to win five Paralympic Gold medals from five Paralympic Games editions.

Meanwhile, Virtus Ambassador, Lenine Cunha, made headlines by becoming the first athlete with an intellectual impairment to be elected to the IPC Athletes’ Council. With 353 votes, Lenine ranked first among all candidates. Reflecting on his achievement, he said,

“The athletes’ voice embodies sports’ heart and soul… I aim to amplify the voices of athletes with intellectual impairments.“

These athletes have proven that athletes with intellectual impairments can compete at the highest levels and achieve extraordinary things. The #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign is more relevant than ever, as these performances underscore the need to celebrate and recognize the abilities of athletes who often go unnoticed.

Let’s continue sharing their stories, breaking down barriers, and fostering an inclusive world where athletes with intellectual impairments are visible, celebrated, and given the platform they deserve!

Congratulations to all Virtus athletes at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games!

Links:

• Lenine Cunha elected to IPC Athlete Council - Read full story
• Full story of 2024 Paris Paralympic Games - Read More

We are now just a few weeks away from the biggest para sport event in the World - the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games - where athletes with an intellectual impairment will be competing in athletics, swimming and table tennis. 

Whilst some athletes secured their place more than a year ago during the 2023 Virtus Global Games, for others the qualification period is still open and athletes around the world have been aiming for the remaining places. 

Virtus anticipates around 150 athletes will compete within the classification group - a fraction of the total (more than 4000) - but none would be there were it not for the tireless work of Virtus whether providing the robust international eligibility service, competition pathways to allow qualification, or raising the profile of sport for people with an intellectual impairment worldwide.

Look out for athletes competing in the T/F20 category in athletics, S14 in swimming and Class 11 in Table Tennis as the worlds best go head-to-head. Virtus will be following athletes as they prepare for and compete in Paris, and you will be able to read their stories on our website beginning in early June.

Everyone at Virtus sends their very best wishes to those competing and we look forward to many memorable moments. But we are also reminded that this will be 4^th edition where athletes with an intellectual impairment are represented in just 3 of the 22 sports available – for many years Virtus has been calling for re-inclusion in sports like Basketball and more – and the classification remains outside of the winter games entirely.

Marc Truffaut – Virtus President - feels that it is now long overdue for this to change. “Athletes with an intellectual impairment are the largest group of athletes worldwide, yet the least represented in Paralympic sport. It is time to put words into action and open more sports and more medal opportunities. Virtus is committed to making this happen and I want to thank everyone who has supported our efforts through the GlobalGiving platform”.

The Paralympic Games begin on 28^th August.