ParalympicsGB will return from Rio with 64 gold medals – the most gold medals and indeed most medals of any British Paralympic team since Seoul 1988 – and won 12% of all gold medals awarded at the Games, which is the best performance since Tel Aviv in 1968.
A series of exceptional performances ensured ParalympicsGB comfortably passed the 121 medal target set by UK Sport, eventually finishing with 64 golds, 39 silvers and 44 bronzes, a total of 147 medals – a result which sees the team finish second in the table behind China. In doing so, the team has now won gold medals in 11 sports – this matches China in 2008 as the highest number in Paralympic history. Additionally, ParalympicsGB secured medals in 15 sports – a feat which equals the record previously held by the USA from Athens 2004 as the greatest ever in one Games. Across ParalympicsGB, the team have broken 49 Paralympic and 27 World Records and both the oldest (Anne Dunham) and youngest (Abby Kane) athletes won medals.
Amongst the outstanding performances from British athletes were: David Smith, who moved himself level with Nigel Murray as Britain’s most successful Boccia player with gold in the mixed individual BC1 class; Libby Clegg and guide Chris Clarke who completed the sprint double over the T11 100m and 200m; Hannah Cockroft successfully defended her 100m T34 title as well as adding 400m and 800m gold to move onto five Paralympic titles; Jonnie Peacock defended his T44 100m title while Nottingham’s Richard Whitehead did likewise in the T42 200m – with teammate David Henson taking bronze – and also taking silver in the T42 100m. Meanwhile in the pool, there were five medals won by 34-year-old swimmer Stephanie Millward while ParalympicsGB swimmers clinched three golds medals in just 38 minutes on day five, including a Paralympic title for Sascha Kindred in his last race of a Paralympic career spanning back to Atlanta 1996. Ellie Simmonds and Susie Rodgers were the other two winners.
The team will depart Rio on Monday 19 September and land back in the UK on Tuesday 20 September. A parade to celebrate the success of the ParalympicsGB and Team GB was announced during the Olympic Games.
The waiting is over for ParalympicsGB athletes to take centre stage as the 15th summer Paralympic Games officially got underway following the Opening Ceremony at the famous Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro!.
Mr Michel Temer, the acting President of the Republic of Brazil, officially opened the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games during a colourful and vibrant ceremony demonstrating the very best of Brazilian sport and culture.
An estimated 4,350 athletes from more than 160 countries are set to compete in 528 medal events across 22 sports over the next 11 days of sporting action. ParalympicsGB have a 264-strong team in Brazil with ten-time Paralympic equestrian champion and flag bearer Lee Pearson leading the British contingent into the stadium on Wednesday evening.
Speaking afterwards Pearson said: “That was one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life. I am a proud Brit and I’m even more proud now after leading the ParalympicsGB athletes out. We had such good banter before coming into the stadium, they were all so supportive and lovely.
Representatives from 14 of the 19 sports that ParalympicsGB will contest in Rio took part in the opening ceremony and ParalympicsGB have finished in the top three in the medal table at the last four Paralympic Games; with a target of winning 121 medals at Rio 2016. Of the team, 50 per cent are competing at their first Games and 72 per cent at their maiden away Paralympics. Day one of Rio 2016 sees ParalympicsGB athletes in action across seven sports: shooting, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, swimming, cycling, football 7-a-side and athletics.
Hope you’ve had a brilliant summer break and are ready and refreshed for another year of hard work at school. We’ve been busy over the holidays getting everything ready for you to #MakeYourMark with Opportunity Notts! We’ve added loads more activity ideas within the different challenges on every level meaning you’ve got plenty more things to try. We’ve also been chatting to our friends at Aspire, Ignite!, School Sport Nottingham and Creative Quarter to make sure we’re totally up-to-date with all the best stuff to do in terms of employability, STEM, sport and arts. Plus, we’ve added a nifty translate app at the top of the page to support students who may find it useful to use OppNotts in another language!
We’re still testing a few other bits – including a editable calendar for you to see all the great events happening in your area and some new goals for you to achieve – but, in the meantime, we look forward to hear all about the amazing things you’ll be doing this year!
