The Kent Paralympians going for gold this summer

Ollie Mangion started playing wheelchair rugby in 2012 with Canterbury Hellfire

ParalympicsGB has already secured gold at the games in Paris, and eight Kent athletes are hoping to add to the country's tally.

Liam McGarry, Iona Winnifrith, Callie-Anne Warrington, Henry Urand, Zak Skinner, Ollie Mangion, Will Bayley and Victoria Kingston will be flying the flag for the county in France.

The Paralympics opening ceremony took place on Wednesday and the games will run until 8 September.

ParalympicsGB finished second in the medal table in Tokyo at the last games, with 41 golds.

Liam McGarry

Liam McGarry won gold at the 2023 World Championships

Dartford powerlifter Liam McGarry is competing in the men's over 107kg category.

His first major event was the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where he recorded a best lift of 215kg, but finished without a medal on bodyweight ratio.

The 27-year-old bounced back to win gold in the over 107kg category at the 2023 World Championships.

He is set to compete on 8 September.

Iona Winnifrith

Iona Winnifrith represents Tonbridge Swimming Club

Iona Winnifrith, 13, is competing in the 200m individual medley in the SM7 category, the 100m breaststroke in the SB7 category and the 50m butterfly in the S7 category.

The Tonbridge Swimming Club star made her debut for Great Britain at the 2024 European Championships and she said her goal was to win a medal at the summer games.

She began swimming at five-years-old.

Winnifrith is competing on Saturday, Thursday and 7 September.

Callie-Ann Warrington

Callie-Ann Warrington is competing in the 100m freestyle and the 100m butterfly

Callie-Anne Warrington is a swimmer who is originally from Maidstone, but is now based in Ashford.

The 24-year-old is competing in the 100m freestyle and the 100m butterfly, both in the S10 category.

The Royal Tunbridge Wells Swimming Club member won a European gold in Portugal earlier in the year.

She is competing on Sunday and Tuesday.

Henry Urand

Henry Urand won his first British title in August 2023

Ashford's Henry Urand is competing in the PTS3 triathlon.

The 21-year-old did para cycling at a national level before making the switch to international para triathlons in 2023.

He won his first British title in August 2023.

Urand will compete on Sunday.

Zak Skinner

Zak Skinner is the son of former England Rugby Union player Mickey Skinner

Zak Skinner, from Sevenoaks, is taking part in the 100m race and long jump event, both in the T13 category.

The 25-year-old, who is the son of former England Rugby Union player Mickey Skinner, also competed in Tokyo.

He won bronze in long jump at the 2023 World Championships and started his career at Tonbridge Athletic Club.

He will compete on Sunday and 7 September.

Ollie Mangion

The wheelchair rugby team beat Australia and Denmark in their opening games

Sheldwich's Ollie Mangion is representing Great Britain in wheelchair rugby.

He started playing the sport in 2012 with Canterbury Hellfire.

Great Britain has already won two Paralympic matches in the sport this summer, beating Australia and Denmark.

The 28-year-old and his side are next scheduled to play hosts France on Saturday before a potential semi-final and final on Sunday and Monday respectively.

Will Bayley

Will Bayley was a Paralympic champion in Rio

Tunbridge Wells' table tennis star Will Bayley is competing in the singles in the MS7 category, and in the men's doubles in the MD14 category.

The table tennis player was a Paralympic champion in Rio in 2016 and has been a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.

He won his doubles match on Thursday and will now compete against France on Friday - with the potential semi-final and final on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

His singles match is on 6 September, with the final the same day.

Victoria Kingstone

Victoria Kingstone grew up in Kent but moved to Camberley in Surrey

Chatham-born Victoria Kingstone is hoping to secure a medal in archery.

The 43-year-old got into the sport after giving up wheelchair basketball when she found out she had osteoporosis. She looked for a new challenge and attended an archery taster day in 2017.

The archer made her international debut the following year.

She competed on Thursday and scored a personal best of 608 as she finished sixth and qualified for the next round on Saturday.