ParalympicsGB: Who will compete for Great Britain in London?
- Published
The 2012 Paralympic Games begin on 29 August and the team that will be representing Great Britain has been finalised.
The ParalympicsGB team for London will be the biggest ever to represent the country, with 288 athletes selected, alongside a further 13 team members, including sighted goalkeepers, tandem riders and guide runners.
Below is the list of those who have been officially selected by the British Paralympic Association.
ARCHERY
Beijing medals: Four - two golds, one silver, one bronze
Ones to watch: Danielle Brown, John Stubbs
Performances by the Great Britain archers in the qualifying period allowed them to have a team of 13 athletes for the London Games.
A total of 20 hopefuls took part in a two-stage selection shoot at Lilleshall before the final squad, including six debutants, was announced.
Defending Paralympic champions Danielle Brown and John Stubbs topped the standings in the men's and women's compound events with Sharon Vennard, who is making her Games debut, and Phil Bottomley, who competed in Beijing, leading the way in the recurve events.
John Cavanagh, who won silver in Beijing in the compound W1 event, and women's bronze medallist Mel Clarke will both be hoping to add to their Paralympic medal tally.
Squad: John Stubbs, Richard Hennahane, Phil Bottomley, Kenny Allen, Murray Elliot, Paul Brown, John Cavanagh, Danielle Brown, Mel Clarke, Pippa Britton, Sharon Vennard, Leigh Walmsley, Kate Murray
ATHLETICS
Beijing medals: 17 - two gold, seven silver, eight bronze
Ones to watch: Dave Weir, Aled Davies, Jonnie Peacock, Libby Clegg, Shelly Woods, Katrina Hart
After a disappointing Beijing, where wheelchair racer David Weir won Britain's only gold medals, things are looking brighter for the GB athletics team in London.
The influence of performance director Peter Eriksson, who was appointed in late 2008, is evident, including the arrival of Canadian wheelchair racing star Chantal Petitclerc as a coach/mentor. Closer links with the Olympic set-up are reaping rewards.
The 49-strong squad includes established figures like Beijing medallists Weir, Stephen Miller, Dan Greaves, Libby Clegg, Ben Rushgrove and Mickey Bushell, as well as a crop of outstanding newcomers who still have plenty of experience like Hannah Cockcroft, Jonnie Peacock and Richard Whitehead.
At last year's World Championships in New Zealand, the 40-strong squad won 38 medals, external to finish third overall, and a similar haul in London would please coach Eriksson.
Men's squad: Ola Abidogun (T46 100/200m), Jonathan Adams (F34 shot putt), Graeme Ballard (T36 100/200m), Paul Blake (T36 400/800m), Mickey Bushell (T53 100/200m), Jamie Carter (T34 100/200m), Aled Davies (F42 shot putt/discus), Derek Derenalagi (F57 discus), David Devine (T12 800/1500/5000m), Kyron Duke (F40 javelin/shot putt), Dan Greaves (F44 discus), Jordan Howe (T35 100/200m), Rhys Jones (T37 100/200m), Dean Miller (T37 1500m), Stephen Miller (F32 club throw), Steve Morris (T20 1500m), Scott Moorhouse (F42 javelin), Stephen Osborne (T51 100m), Jonnie Peacock (T44 100m), Sam Ruddock (T35 100/200m), Ben Rushgrove (T36 100/200m), Nathan Stephens (F57 javelin), Kieran Tscherniawsky (F33 discus), David Weir (T54 800/1500/5000/marathon), Dan West (F34 shot putt), Richard Whitehead (T42 100/200m), Rob Womack (F55 shot putt).
Women's squad: Hollie Arnold (F46 javelin), Olivia Breen (T38 100/200/4x100m relay), Sally Brown (T46 100/200m), Libby Clegg (T12 100/200m), Hannah Cockroft (T34 100/200m), Katrina Hart (T37 100/200/4x100m relay), Tracey Hinton (T11 100/200m), Bev Jones (F37 discus/shot putt), Jade Jones (T54 400m/800m/1500m), Sophie Kamlish (T44 100/200m), Jenny McLoughlin (T37 100/200/4x100m relay), Maxine Moore (F32 club throw), Mel Nicholls (T34 100/200m), Josie Pearson (F51 discus/club throw), Gemma Prescott (F32 shot putt/club throw), Stef Reid (T44 100/200m/F44 long jump), Hazel Robson (T36 100/200/4x100m relay), Sophia Warner (T35 100/200/4x100m relay), Claire Williams (F12 discus), Shelly Woods (T54 800/1500/5000/marathon), Bethy Woodward (T37 200/4x100m relay)
BOCCIA
Beijing medals: Two - one gold and one silver
One to watch: David Smith
Five of the nine-strong GB boccia squad will be making their Paralympic debuts in London.
While GB has always been strong in the BC1 and BC2 categories, winning team gold and an individual silver in Beijing, there has been a lot of work since then to develop BC3 and BC4 athletes. BC3 athletes use a ramp to play the sport while BC4 athletes have impairments other than cerebral palsy.
BC3 competitors Jessica Hunter and Jacob Thomas have been fast-tracked and won pairs gold in the recent test event at the Olympic Park, while brothers Peter and Stephen McGuire will be hoping to make an impact in the BC4 event.
Boccia squad: Dan Bentley, Jessica Hunter, Scott McCowan, Peter McGuire, Stephen McGuire, Nigel Murray, Zoe Robinson, David Smith, Jacob Thomas
CYCLING
Beijing medals: 20 - 17 gold, 3 silver
The GB cycling team were the stars in the Velodrome and on the road at the Beijing Games but will face a difficult challenge to match that level of success this time around with other nations closing the gap.
The 19-strong team (15 riders and four pilots) earned their places at the Games as a result of their performances at the 2010 and 2011 Track and Road World Championships, as well as this year's Track World Championships and the Road World Cups over the past two years.
There are seven defending champions selected including Sarah Storey, Darren Kenny and David Stone as well as some talented newcomers including Jon-Allan Butterworth, who has come to the sport via the Battle Back scheme and Crystal Lane, who received a late call-up to the squad.
Men's squad: Jon-Allan Butterworth, Mark Colborne, Jody Cundy, Neil Fachie (pilot: Barney Storey), Anthony Kappes (pilot: Craig MacLean), Darren Kenny, Shaun McKeown, David Stone, Rik Waddon.
Women's squad: Karen Darke, Crystal Lane, Aileen McGlynn (pilot: Helen Scott), Rachel Morris, Sarah Storey, Lora Turnham (pilot: Fiona Duncan)
EQUESTRIAN
Beijing medals: 10 - five gold, five silver
The GB Para-dressage squad has enjoyed success since the sport made its Paralympic debut in 1996 and Beijing was no exception.
At the 2010 World Equestrian Games they won 13 medals, external, including seven golds, and at last year's European Championships, the all-female squad won eight golds.
Nine-time gold medallist Lee Pearson returns to the squad after injury kept him out of the Europeans and he is joined by fellow Beijing medallists Sophie Christiansen and Debbie Criddle as well as Paralympic debutants Sophie Wells and Natasha Baker.
Squad: Sophie Christiansen (Grade Ia) riding Janeiro 6, Lee Pearson (Grade Ib) riding Gentleman, Natasha Baker (Grade II) riding Cabral, Deborah Criddle (Grade III) riding LJT Akilles, Sophie Wells (Grade IV) riding Pinocchio. First reserve: Anne Dunham (Grade Ia) riding Teddy.
FOOTBALL
Beijing medals: None
Ones to watch: Ibrahim Diallo (seven-a-side), Dave Clarke (five-a-side)
There are two football competitions at the London Paralympics - seven-a-side for footballers with cerebral palsy and the five-a-side event for blind footballers - and GB will be represented in both.
Both sides missed out on medals in Beijing and will face a tough task to get on the podium on home soil.
The five-a-side team will hope that striker Dave Clarke can keep knocking in the goals while the seven-a-side team, which includes Martin Sinclair, the brother of Swansea striker Scott, finished second at the recent Paralympic World Cup in Manchester
Seven-a-side squad: Craig Connell, Billy Thompson, George Fletcher, Matt Dimbylow, Blair Glynn, Matthew Ellis, Martin Sinclair, Jonathan Paterson, James Richmond, Alistair Hesleton, Ibrahim Diallo, Michael Barker
Five-a-side squad: Dave Clarke, Dan English, Darren Harris, Robin Williams, Keryn Seal, Lee Brunton, Will Norman, Roy Turnham. Dan James (GK), Lewis Skyers (GK)
GOALBALL
Beijing medals: Did not compete
Ones to watch: Anna Sharkey, Niall Graham
The Great Britain men's and women's goalball teams return to the Paralympic fold after a 12-year absence hoping to make up for lost time.
Both squads had to wait until March for their host nation spots to be ratified after the women's team competed in the London 2012 test event in December 2011.
The five-strong women's squad includes one survivor from the sport's last appearance in Sydney, Louise Simpson, and along with Jessica Luke, Georgie Bullen and Anna Sharkey led GB to European gold in 2009.
Sharkey's brother Michael is included on the men's team along with brothers Adam and David Knott and former England basketball player Niall Graham who started losing his sight aged 18 due to a congenital condition as well as Joe Dodson and Simon Goodall.
Men's squad: Joe Dodson, Adam Knott, David Knott, Simon Goodall, Niall Graham, Michael Sharkey
Women's squad: Louise Simpson, Amy Ottaway, Georgina Bullen, Jessica Luke, Anna Sharkey.
JUDO
Beijing medals: One bronze
One to watch: Ben Quilter
Competitors in the Paralympic judo events are all blind or visually impaired and the GB judo squad for London features two sets of brothers - the Ingrams and the Powells.
Sam Ingram won bronze in Beijing and he is joined this time around by his brother Joe, while Dan and Marc Powell emulate their father, Terry, who competed in both Seoul and Atlanta.
Ben Quilter, the current European and world champion in the -60kg category, completes the squad and will be hoping to complete a clean sweep of titles.
Judo squad: Joe Ingram, Sam Ingram, Dan Powell, Marc Powell, Ben Quilter
POWERLIFTING
Beijing medals: None
One to watch: Zoe Newson
A six-strong squad will compete for GB in powerlifting, including Anthony Peddle, who has been selected for his seventh Paralympic Games having won two bronzes and a gold over his career.
Natalie Blake, Jason Irving and Ali Jawad all have previous Paralympic Games experience while Paul Efayena and Zoe Newson will be making their debuts in London and hoping to make a big impression.
The squad have attended three of the BPA preparation camps at the University of Bath as part of their development for the Games and they are hopeful that they can build on recent performances to deliver good results in London.
Powerlifting squad: Natalie Blake, Paul Efayena, Jason Irving, Ali Jawad, Zoe Newson, Anthony Peddle
ROWING
Beijing medals: Three - two gold, one bronze
The GB rowers topped the medal standings in Beijing and will be hoping to do the same on home water.
Multiple world champion Tom Aggar, external will defend his men's single sculls title but GB have no representative in the women's single scull after the retirement of Beijing champion Helene Raynsford., external
Naomi Riches will hope to add to the bronze medal she won on Beijing after being selected in the mixed coxed four along with Pam Relph, James Roe and Dave Smith and cox Lily van der Broecke. The crew are already world champions after triumphing in Bled last year.
The new mixed double scull pairing of Sam Scowen and Nick Beighton will both be making their Paralympic debuts. Beighton is a British Army captain who lost both of his legs while fighting in Afghanistan and only started rowing in 2011
SAILING
Beijing medals: None
Ones to watch: Alex Rickham and Niki Birrell
The six-strong GB sailing team has a wealth of experience, with all members having taking part in the Beijing Games, and they will be hoping to make home advantage count down in Weymouth where they have spent many hours on the water.
Five of the squad were the first members of the ParalympicsGB team to be selected for London last year, while Helena Lucas secured her place in the team in May.
Since Beijing, the two-handed Skud-18 crew of Alex Rickham and Niki Birrell have won four world titles and will be hoping to win Paralympic gold.
Sailing squad: John Robertson, Hannah Stodel, Steve Thomas (Sonar), Alex Rickham, Niki Birrell (Skud-18), Helena Lucas (2.4mR)
SHOOTING
Beijing medals: One gold
Ones to watch: Nathan Milgate, Karen Butler
Impressive displays at the 2010 World Championship and the World Cup series mean that Great Britain will have one of shooting's biggest contingents in London with 12 competitors - an increase from the four-strong squad in Beijing four years ago.
The programme has undergone massive growth over this cycle with new athletes identified and developed and some of the experienced shooters in the squad also raising their standards in response.
Among the GB squad is Di Coates, who will be competing in her eighth Paralympic Games having made her debut at the 1984 Games at Stoke Mandeville, while Matt Skelhon will be defending his Paralympic title - but this time without the red mohican he sported in Beijing.
Shooting: James Bevis, Adrian Bunclark, Ryan Cockbill, Richard Davies, Adam Fontain, Ben Jesson, Nathan Milgate, Matt Skelhon, Karen Butler, Georgina Callingham, Di Coates, Mandy Pankhurst.
SITTING VOLLEYBALL
Beijing medals: Did not compete
Ones to watch: Anton Raimondo, Emma Wiggs
The Great Britain sitting volleyball teams had an anxious wait before their host nation places for 2012 were confirmed.
The men had their place confirmed in September 2011 but confirmation of the GB women's host nation slot was only decided in mid-March 2012.
Included in the women's squad is Martine Wiltshire (nee Wright) who took up the sport after losing both her legs in the 7/7 bombings in London in 2005.
Both the men's and women's squads have worked hard to get themselves in contention for a place at the Games and now work closely alongside Volleyball England, with a number of the squad based at Roehampton University.
Women's sitting volleyball squad: Amy Brierly, Andrea Green, Claire Harvey, Emma Wiggs, Jessica Frezza, Jessica O'Brien, Julie Rogers, Martine Wiltshire, Jodi Hill, Sam Bowen, Vicky Widdup
Men's sitting volleyball squad: Anton Raimondo, Ben Hall, Charlie Walker, James Roberts, Justin Phillips, Muzzaffar Jabbar, Netra Rana, Richard Dobell, Rob Richardson, Sam Scott.
SWIMMING
Beijing medals: 41 - 11 gold, 12 silver, 18 bronze
Ones to watch: Ellie Simmonds, Hannah Russell, Sascha Kindred, Ollie Hynd
The 44-strong swimming team will be the second-largest British squad at the Games, behind only the athletics squad.
Swimming hopefuls had the chance to set qualifying times at two events - one at the Olympic pool in March and the other in Sheffield in April.
In April, 16 swimmers including the likes of Ellie Simmonds were selected, with a further 26 swimmers nominated subject to formal confirmation of the slots made available by IPC Swimming, and their places were confirmed in June along with two more swimmers in Morgyn Peters and James Clegg.
The main absentee from the GB team is 11-time gold medallist Dave Roberts, who has struggled with injury and illness over the last couple of years and failed to make the qualifying times at the trials in Sheffield.
The GB squad features a good mix of experienced campaigners like Matt Walker, Liz Johnson and Sascha and Nyree Kindred as well as youngsters like Andrew Mullen, Hannah Russell and Amy Marren, who only turns 14 in August.
There are also seven swimmers with learning disabilities included as events return to the Paralympic movement for the first time since 2000.
Men's swimming squad: James Anderson, Jack Bridge (R), Josef Craig (R), James Crisp, Graham Edmunds (R), Jonathan Fox, Sean Fraser (R), James Hollis (R), Oliver Hynd, Sam Hynd, Sascha Kindred, Aaron Moores, Andrew Mullen, James O'Shea, Daniel Pepper, Ben Procter, Craig Rodgie, Anthony Stephens, Matt Walker, Rob Welbourn, Matt Whorwood, Thomas Young, Morgyn Peters, James Clegg
Women's swimming squad: Gemma Almond, Jessica Applegate, Claire Cashmore, Chloe Davies, Heather Frederiksen, Rhiannon Henry, Charlotte Henshaw, Emma Hollis, Liz Johnson, Natalie Jones, Nyree Kindred, Harriet Lee, Amy Marren (R), Natalie Massey, Stephanie Millward, Susie Rodgers, Hannah Russell, Ellie Simmonds, Lauren Steadman (R), Louise Watkin.
(R) denotes relay selection
TABLE TENNIS
Beijing medals: None
One to watch: Will Bayley
A squad of 13 will represent GB at table tennis, including Will Bayley, who is world number one in his class.
After missing out on medals in Beijing, the GB squad has had a revamp under the guidance of new performance manager Gorazd Vecko.
The sport is now based at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield and has been reaping the benefits. Bayley, 24, went to Beijing but since then has gone from strength to strength and is the current European Class 7 singles champion and team runner-up.
Men's table tennis squad: Rob Davies, Paul Davies, David Wetherill, Will Bayley, Paul Karabardak, Ross Wilson, Kim Daybell, Aaron McKibbin, Scott Robertson.
Women's table tennis squad: Sara Head, Jane Campbell, Sue Gilroy MBE, Victoria Bromley.
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
Beijing medals: One bronze (men's)
Ones to watch: Jon Pollock, Amy Conroy
The GB men's and women's teams will both be hoping they can come away with a medal from the Games.
The men's team welcome back Jon Pollock, who missed last year's European Championships victory with a shoulder injury, and Terry Bywater, who suffered a wrist injury after the tournament.
The squad features four players who will be making their Paralympic debut as well as Simon Munn, for whom London will be his sixth Games.
The women's squad, aiming to better their eighth-placed finish in Beijing. has a youthful look.
It includes six debutants, including teenagers Amy Conroy (19) and Maddie Thompson (17) and has an average age of 25.
Men's squad: Abdi Jama, Matt Byrne, Pete Finbow, Matt Sealy, Ade Orogbemi, Jon Pollock, Jon Hall, Ian Sagar, Simon Munn, Gaz Choudhry, Terry Bywater, Dan Highcock.
Women's squad: Sarah McPhee, Laurie Williams, Clare Strange, Louise Sugden, Helen Turner, Helen Freeman, Natasha Davies, Sarah Grady, Judith Hamer, Maddie Thompson, Caroline Maclean, Amy Conroy.
WHEELCHAIR FENCING
Beijing medals: None
One to watch: Gabby Down
From a team of one in Beijing, Great Britain will have a seven-strong squad in London.
Bringing experience to the team is David Heaton, who competed at four Games before retiring after the 2004 Games in Athens, while the other six members of the team will all be making their Paralympic debuts in London.
The women's Epee team has an average age of 18 and includes 14-year-old Gabby Down, who will be one of the youngest British athletes to compete at the Games
Wheelchair fencing squad: Gemma Collis, Gabby Down, Justine Moore, Tom Hall-Butcher, David Heaton, Craig McCann, Simon Wilson.
WHEELCHAIR RUGBY
Beijing medals: None
One to watch: Aaron Phipps
The GB wheelchair rugby squad will be hoping to make amends for fourth-place finishes at the last two Games and win a first Paralympic medal.
Three of the 11-strong squad competed in both Athens and Beijing while a further two were part of the Beijing squad. Among the six debutants are team captain Steve Brown, Kylie Grimes - the second woman to represent GB in the sport - and Aaron Phipps, whose scoring power is vitally important to the team.
The team finished fifth at the 2010 World Championships, were runners-up at the 2011 European Championships and finished second to a strong Australia side in April's test event at the Olympic Park.
Wheelchair rugby squad: Steve Brown (c), David Anthony, Andy Barrow, Jonny Coggan, Kylie Grimes, Bulbul Hussain, Mike Kerr, Ross Morrison, Myles Pearson, Aaron Phipps, Mandip Sehmi,
WHEELCHAIR TENNIS
Beijing medals: Two - one gold and one bronze
One to watch: Peter Norfolk
The year-long qualifying period for the Paralympic tennis events ended on 21 May, with a 10-strong team selected to represent GB in the events at Eton Manor.
Peter Norfolk in the quad division represents the best medal chance. He will be bidding for his third Paralympic singles title, while also forming a strong doubles partnership with Andy Lapthorne, who is hoping to make his Paralympic debut.
The men's and women's doubles partnerships of Gordon Reid and Marc McCarroll and Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley will hope to make an impact in their respective events.
Wheelchair tennis squad: Men - Gordon Reid, Marc McCarroll, David Phillipson, Alex Jewitt. Women - Lucy Shuker, Jordanne Whiley, Louise Hunt. Quad - Peter Norfolk, Andy Lapthorne, Jamie Burdekin.
- Published7 September 2012
- Published22 December 2011