Hollie Arnold MBE is the reigning Paralympic champion – not to mention her four consecutive IPC Athletics World Championship titles – and goes to her fourth Paralympics with her same competitive mantra that you have to be both the best in the world and the best on the day to win gold.

She threw a javelin for the first time at an introduction to athletics day called Star Track in 2006, and recalls thinking that it “seemed to travel quite far”.

Little did she know at the time what a life-changing moment that was!

Just three years later, and Hollie, aged 14 years and 74 days, became the youngest ever field athlete to compete in the Paralympics Games. She threw a personal best and finished just outside the top 10 in a mixed category in Beijing, but more significantly the 2008 Games was where Hollie fell in love with the javelin, and from that moment onwards she has dedicated herself to become the global dominant force in the F46 javelin category.

Soon after her family moved to Wales to allow Hollie to attend Ystrad Mynach College and benefitted from the world class training and coaching programmes at Cardiff Met.

And the training worked, because in 2010 Hollie won silver at the IWAS World Junior Championship, and gold at the same tournament a year later.

Having won bronze at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships, Hollie finished fifth in the Paralympic Games in London in 2012.

From there, things really took off – with Hollie winning back-to-back IPC World Championships titles in Lyon (2013) and Doha (2015) respectively in her build up to the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.

And what a sensational Games that was for Hollie, as she became Paralympic champion by winning gold with a world record breaking throw.

And the gold medals and records kept coming. In 2017 she won gold at the IPC Athletics World Championships in London with yet another new world record, became European champion in 2018 and Commonwealth Games champion later the same year, with another new world record throw to win gold at the Gold Coast.

In 2019, Hollie recorded her fourth consecutive major title by winning gold in Dubai, setting a new European and championship record.

In recognition of her inspirational sporting achievements, Hollie was made an MBE in the 2017 New Year Honours – and in 2020 she appeared on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

“It all comes down to those six throws and if you can't enjoy yourself while you're in that moment and focus and concentration, then why do it? So really learnt a lot from last year to take on Tokyo but yeah, I'm going to go out there and hopefully do my absolute best and I certainly won't give up without fight.”

Career Highlights

Paralympic Games

2016 – Gold, World Record, Rio

2012 – 5th, New Personal Best, London

2008 – 11th, New Personal Best, Beijing. Aged 14 years and 74 days, Hollie became the youngest athlete to compete at the Paralympics Games.

World Para Athletics Championships (formerly IPC Athletics World Championships)

Hollie holds four consecutive IPC Athletics World Championship titles, having won gold in Lyon (2013), Doha (2015), London (2017) and Dubai (2019).

2019 – Gold, Dubai

2017 – Gold, World Record, London

2015 – Gold, Doha

2013 – Gold, Lyon

2011 – Bronze, Christchurch

World Para Athletics European Championships (formerly IPC Athletics European Championships)

2018 – Gold, Berlin

2012 – Silver, Stadskanaal

Commonwealth Games (representing Wales)

2018 – Gold, World Record, Gold Coast

In 2018, Hollie became the first ever javelin thrower to hold all four major titles in the same Paralympic/Olympic four year cycle: 2016 Rio Paralympics (and world record), 2017 London World Championships (and world record), 2018 European Championships (Berlin) and the 2018 Commonwealth Games (Gold Coast) where she recorded another world record.

Laura Sugar has competed at International level in three different sports – having played hockey for Wales, made two Paralympic Games finals in athletics at Rio (finishing fifth in both the T44 100m and 200m sprint events) and winning European and World Championship medals in canoeing.

It was the London 2012 Paralympic Games that inspired Laura to take up athletics.

She finished fourth and fifth in the 200m and 100m respectively at her maiden World Championships in 2013 before going on to claim two bronze medals in the same events at the European Championships in Swansea a year later.

In 2016 she again claimed 200m bronze at the European Championships in Italy, going one better over 100m with a silver medal.

Laura went on to finish fifth in both sprint events at the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016, then competed in front of a home crowd at the 2017 World Championships in London, but just missed out on a podium.

Laura was approached by British Canoeing and offered a trial in the KL3 class. She enjoyed a wonderful debut season on the water in 2019, winning European bronze in Poland and claiming World Championship silver in Hungary.

Laura booked her place at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo by winning gold in the Women’s KL3 200m at the Canoe Sprint European Paralympic qualifier in Szeged, Hungary. As the event doubled up as a World Cup meeting, it was also her first gold medal at a major Championship event.

“To be able to go in another sport and to get on that plane to Tokyo is really special, regardless of whether it’s in athletics or canoe, just to get on that Paralympics GB team is really special.”

“Obviously you don’t know what the rest of the world is capable of. There are a couple of people that haven’t raced in two years, including the current world champion herself, so you don’t know what the outcome might be. But knowing that I’ve got that chance – I know I’m up there and I know that I can fight in races when it’s tough. It’s really nice going to Tokyo knowing that I’ve got a shot.”

Career Highlights

2021 – Gold, World Cup and Canoe Sprint European Paralympic qualifier, Hungary (Women’s KL3 200m)

2019 – Silver, World Championships, Hungary (KL3 200m)

2019 – Bronze, European Championships, Poland (KL3 200m)

2016 – 5th, Paralympic Games, Rio (T44 100m)

2016 – 5th, Paralympic Games, Rio (T44 200m)

2016 – Silver, IPC Athletics European Championships, Italy (T44 100m)

2016 – Silver, IPC Athletics European Championships, Italy (T44 200m)

2014 – Bronze, IPC Grand Prix Finals (100m T43-44)

2014 – Bronze, IPC Athletics European Championships, Swansea (T44 100m)

2014 – Bronze, IPC Athletics European Championships, Swansea (T44 200m)

2014 – 4th, IPC Athletics European Championships, Swansea (T44 Long Jump)

2013 – 4th, World Championships, (T44 200m)

2013 – 5th, World Championships, (T44 100m)

2013 – Bronze, IPC Grand Prix Finals (100m T43-47)

Laura played hockey for the Welsh U17 and U18 teams, captained Wales at U21 level and gained 16 senior caps.

Dave awoke one morning with numbness in his right leg, and after six weeks in hospital he was diagnosed with a relapsing remitting strain of multiple sclerosis.

Having been forced to take early retirement aged 46 from his job at Tata Steel, his wife Angie persuaded him, in 2013, to take up archery again. In his late teens, Dave had been ranked fifth in Britain, but because of work and family commitments he hadn’t competed for 30 years.

Dave joined Llantarnam Archery Club and was set to make his International debut at the 2014 Para World Ranking Tournament when his archery equipment was stolen from his car.

It was Angie who came to the rescue again, alerting the police when she saw the kit on sale. The culprit was caught and the equipment returned – allowing Dave to travel to the tournament in Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic and win gold (as part of the men’s team) and bronze (as part of the mixed team).

He also represented GB at the European Para Championships in Notwill, Switzerland, where he won team gold and mixed team bronze, as well as finishing fifth in the individual competition.

With psychologist and physiotherapist support, together with an athlete-led training programme and a bespoke shooting stool all from Disability Sport Wales, Dave climbed up the rankings and became Welsh number one in 2016.

He made his Paralympic Games debut in Rio in 2016, competing in the mixed team event alongside Tania Nadarajah. The pair were knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the recurve mixed team competition in a tense shoot-off by top seeds Iran 5-4.

“I can’t control other people, so I don’t know whether they are going to shoot good or bad at the time. I can only think about what I do and my own processes. I think I have the ability and I don’t worry about things when I am on the competition field.”

“A lot of archers have adrenalin rushes, which can be positive of course, but for some reason I don’t panic.”

“I know what to do. It doesn’t always go as I planned, but I know what to do so I just get on with that. I can only do my best.”

Career Highlights

2016 – Quarter Finals, Paralympic Games in Rio (mixed team recurve)

2014 – Gold, Para World Ranking Tournament, Czech Republic (men’s team recurve)

2014 – Bronze, Para World Ranking Tournament, Czech Republic (mixed team recurve)

2014 – Gold, European Para Championships, Switzerland (men’s team recurve)

2014 – Bronze, European Para Championships, Switzerland (mixed team recurve)

Anyone who knows anything about the sport of boccia will know of David Smith, as the two are indelibly linked – and have been for almost 20 years.

David, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a baby, first played Boccia aged six when his school competed at a national junior games tournament in Stoke Mandeville.

He also played wheelchair hockey, wheelchair football and competed in Para-athletics, plus he was a keen drummer, but it was at boccia that he really flourished. At 14-years old, he became the youngest ever British Boccia Champion, beating the then GB captain in 2003.

David made his major International debut at the 2005 European Championships, winning silver in Porto.

Then, aged 18, he became double world champion after winning his first major International individual gold at the 2007 World Championships in Vancouver, followed by gold in the BC1/2 Team event.

At the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, David won gold in the BC1/2 Team competition. Upon his return to the UK, he went to Swansea University to study Aerospace Engineering. He has lived in Swansea ever since and enjoys the magnificent training facilities on offer there.

An individual gold at the 2009 European Championships in Portugal and a team bronze at the 2011 World Championships in Belfast led David onto the 2012 Paralympic Games in London – where he won silver in the Individual BC1 in a tense match with rival Pattaya Tadtong (Thailand), and secured bronze in the BC1/2 Team competition.

Individual and team golds at the 2013 European Championships in Portugal, individual gold and team bronze at the 2014 World Championships in Beijing and team gold at the European Championships in Guildford followed – before David appeared at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio sporting an unforgettable blue mohawk hairstyle!

He won the gold medal with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Daniel Perez (Netherlands) to become the joint most successful British boccia player in history.

There was no mistaking his status, as subsequent individual gold medals at the 2018 World Championships in Liverpool and at the 2019 European Championships in Porto gave him an incredible triple crown of major tournament wins – holding Paralympic, European and World titles at the same time.

David has remained unbeaten in GB Championships since 2004 and in 2017 was made an MBE in the New Year Honours List for services to boccia.

David travels to Tokyo – and his fourth Paralympic Games – as world number one.

“I’ve been sort of a target for the last twelve years. I think after a while you just get used to it – but now I have the Paralympics in Tokyo to focus on.”

“I’m looking forward to it, as my attitude now is that anybody can win and anyone can lose.”

“I’m still human at the end of the day and you know sometimes I won’t play well. I might lose, but now it’s not necessarily about that. It’s about playing as well as I can and making sure my minimum level is as high as possible and that I am really tough to beat.”

Career Highlights

2019 - Gold, European Championships, Portugal (Individual BC1)

2019 - Bronze, European Championships, Portugal (BC1/2 Team)

2018 – Gold, World Championships, Liverpool (Individual BC1)

2017 – Gold, European Championships, Portugal (Individual BC1)

2016 – Gold, Paralympic Games, Rio (Individual BC1)

2016 – Bronze, World Championships, Beijing (Individual BC1)

2015 – Gold, European Championships, Guildford (BC1/2 Team)

2014 – Gold, World Championships, Beijing (Individual BC1)

2014 – Bronze, World Championships, Beijing (BC1/2 Team)

2013 – Gold, European Championships, Portugal (Individual BC1)

2013 – Gold, European Championships, Portugal (BC1/2 Team)

2012 – Silver, Paralympic Games, London (Individual BC1)

2012 – Bronze, Paralympic Games, London (BC1/2 Team)

2011 – Bronze, World Championships, Belfast (BC1/2 Team)

2009 – Gold, European Championships, Portugal (Individual BC1)

2008 – Gold, Paralympic Games, Beijing (BC1/2 Team)

2007 – Gold, World Championships, Vancouver (Individual BC1)

2007 – Gold, World Championships, Vancouver (BC1/2 Team)

2006 – Bronze, World Championships, Rio (BC1/2 Team)

2005 – Silver, European Championships, Portugal (BC1/2 Team)

2003 – aged 14, became the youngest ever British Boccia Champion

James Ball started his sporting career as a swimmer, before moving to athletics.

The visually-impaired athlete was in-line to earn selection in track and field for GB at London Paralympic Games in 2012, before an injury ended his hopes and aspirations. He persisted with athletics until a further string of injuries in 2015 left him unsure of his future.

As part of his return to fitness, James took part in turbo testing arranged by British Cycling, and his potential on a bike was discovered.

He quickly earned a spot on the World Class Performance Programme and was selected for the 2016 World Championship team. Paired with pilot Craig McLean, James took a bronze medal away from that tournament held in Montichiari, in the Lombardy region of Italy – his first of what has become many World Championship tandem sprint event medals.

James then represented Paralympics GB at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, where he finished fifth in the kilo with pilot Craig McClean.

In 2017 James was paired with Matt Rotherham and the pair claimed double gold at the World Championships in Los Angeles, with victories in the kilo and sprint.

Further medals were gained at both the World Championships in Rio and the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018, before James returned to the top step of the podium at the 2019 World Championships in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands, winning the kilo alongside Pete Mitchell.

In 2020 James teamed up with Lewis Stewart. The partnership got off to a hugely promising start, winning sprint gold and kilo silver at the World Championships in Milton, Canada.

Tokyo will be James’s second Paralympic Games.

“I feel proud of myself really, getting as far as I have. Obviously, I don’t see disability as a limiting factor and I’ve grown up with Paralympic sport.”

“Sitting at home watching the London Paralympic Games in 2012 pushed everything along in what’s turned out to be the best way possible.”

Career Highlights

2020 – Gold, UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Canada (sprint, piloted by Lewis Stewart)

2020 – Silver, UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Canada (kilo, piloted by Lewis Stewart)

2019 – Gold, UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Netherlands (kilo, piloted by Pete Mitchell)

2019 – Silver, UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Netherlands (kilo, sprint by Pete Mitchell)

2018 – Silver, Commonwealth Games, Australia (kilo, piloted by Pete Mitchell)

2018 – Silver, Commonwealth Games, Australia (sprint, piloted by Pete Mitchell)

2018 – Silver, UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Rio (kilo, piloted by Pete Mitchell)

2018 – Bronze, UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Rio (sprint, piloted by Pete Mitchell)

2017 – Gold, UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Los Angeles (kilo, piloted by Matt Rotherham)

2017 – Gold, UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Los Angeles (sprint, piloted by Matt Rotherham)

2016 – 5th, Paralympic Games, Rio (kilo, piloted by Craig McClean.

2016 – Bronze, UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, Italy (sprint, piloted by Craig Maclean)

Following a freak knee injury whilst playing rugby for Swansea RFC in January 2015, which left him with no feeling and impaired movement in his right foot, Harrison took up para athletics in 2017.

The former Wales U18 international and development player with the Ospreys has since enjoyed a sensational rise to the top.

In 2021 Harrison made his major International tournament debut at the WPA European Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland – winning bronze with a PB throw of 54.85 metres.

He will now make his Paralympic Games debut in the F64 Discus category in Tokyo.

“I’m ready to compete at the Paralympic Games. I’m excited to get out there, I am excited for the experience it will give me and I am very focused on the competition at the same time.”

“It was just the best feeling to be at the recent European Championships with the GB team. I competed really well in Poland, so now I’m just excited to go to Tokyo and show the world what I am about.”

Career Highlights

2021 – Bronze, WPA European Championships in Poland (F64 Discus)

Harri became involved in Para sport through insport Series events organised by Disability Sport Wales.

He was a member of the British national wheelchair basketball team that won gold at the 2014 U22 European Championships in Zaragoza, while he also played for the Wales national team and the Cardiff Celts.

Harri, who was born with cerebral palsy, switched to para athletics in 2015 and has since gone from strength to strength.

He won gold at the 2018 WPA European Championships in Berlin and bronze at the 2019 World Championships in Dubai, both in the Men's T33 100m.

At the WPA European Championships earlier this year, which took place in Bydgoszc in Poland, Harri claimed bronze with a season best time of 18.64 – only slightly shy of his PB time of 18.02, despite the long Covid-19 enforced lockdown.

“It’s a dream come true and an absolute honour to have been selected for my first Paralympic Games, and I can’t wait to get out to Tokyo.”

“Going to the Paralympic Games is what I have wanted my whole life. I’m in a good place, I’m not nervous right now, I’ll just see how things go.”

“I’m in a good place and I am excited more than anything. I’m excited to get out there and just enjoy it.”

Career Highlights

2021 – Bronze, WPA European Championships in Poland (Men’s T33/34 100m)

2019 – Bronze, World Championships in Dubai (Men's T33 100m)

2018 – Gold, WPA European Championships in Berlin (Men's T33 100m)

2014 – Gold, U22 European Championships in Zaragoza, Spain (wheelchair basketball)

Having cerebral palsy didn’t stop Olivia ‘Livvy’ Breen from doing everything her adventurous twin brother Dan did when she was little, and such is her incredible determination and infectious spirit that it doesn’t stop her doing anything now.

And that includes winning gold at the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and European Championships – as she prepares for her third Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Having always had a passion for sport, Livvy’s International track and field career took off when she was classified as a T38 athlete in 2012.

The same year she was selected to compete in the Paralympic Games in London, where she finished fifth in the T38 100m, eighth in the T38 200m and ran a season’s best first leg time to help secure bronze in the 4 x 100m relay (alongside team-mates Jenny McLoughlin, Bethy Woodward and Katrina Hart).

More major International success followed, including winning silver (T35-38 100m) and bronze (T38 100m) at the 2014 IPC European Championships in Swansea, silver (4 x 100m relay) at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, gold (4 x 100m relay) at the 2015 IPA World Championships in Doha and gold (T35-38 100m) at the 2016 IPC European Championships in Grosseto, Italy.

In the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio Livvy claimed seventh in the T38 100m and 12th in the T38 Long Jump and then went on to win gold in the T38 Long Jump at the World Championships in London the following year.

Despite developing tendinitis in her right knee, Livvy won gold (T38 Long Jump) and bronze (T38 100m) at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and bronze (T38 100m) at the WPA European Championships in Berlin.

As part of her preparation for Tokyo Livvy won bronze (T38 Long Jump) at the 2021 WPA European Championships in Poland and missed out on a medal in the T38 100m sprint by just two hundredths of a second, setting a PB time of 13.01.

“I moved back home to be with my family during lockdown, didn’t see my coach for six months but I just thought ‘Liv, use this opportunity, don’t waste your time, don’t stop training, use this to work on your weaknesses,’ and it made such a difference.”

“I don’t think I would be running in the times I have been, and setting PBs, if I hadn’t adopted that attitude.”

“I also feel that there is a big jump coming too – and I think it’s basically waiting for me in Tokyo!”

Career Highlights

2021 – Bronze, WPA European Championships in Poland (T38 Long Jump)

2021 – 4th, WPA European Championships in Poland (T38 100m)

2018 – Gold, Commonwealth Games in Australia (T38 Long Jump)

2018 – Bronze, Commonwealth Games in Australia (T38 100m)

2018 – Bronze, WPA European Championships in Berlin (T38 100m)

2017 – Disability Sport Wales Female Athlete of the Year

2017 – Gold, IPA World Championships in London (T38 Long Jump)

2016 – 7th, Paralympic Games in Rio (T38 100m)

2016 – 12th, Paralympic Games in Rio (T38 Long Jump)

2016 – Gold, IPC European Championships in Grosseto, Italy (T35-38 100m)

2015 – Gold, IPA World Championships in Doha (4 x 100m relay)

2014 – 7th, Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (T38 Long Jump)

2014 – Silver, Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (4 x 100m relay)

2014 – Silver, IPC European Championships in Swansea (T35-38 100m)

2014 – Bronze, IPC European Championships in Swansea (T38 100m)

2012 – 5th, Paralympic Games in London (T38 100m)

2012 – 8th, Paralympic Games in London (T38 200m)

2012 – Bronze, Paralympic Games in London (4 x 100m relay)

2012 – Bronze, IPC Athletics European Championships in the Netherlands (T38 100m and 200m)

Kyron took up athletics at the age of six and has competed at the highest level around the world, including the Paralympic Games in London and Rio and winning silver in both the World and European Championships.

Kyron became British Junior Powerlifting Champion in 2009 and represented Wales at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi in the Bench Press category.

By then he had also started to compete in track and field events, contesting the F40 Shot Put and Javelin at the CP Sport Grand Prix in Nottingham and at the Czech Open. His first medal came when he won gold at the 2010 Berlin Open.

From that moment on, Kyron’s career has rocketed – both in Shot Put and Javelin. Early achievements include winning bronze at the 2011 World Championships in Christchurch, double bronze at the 2012 IPC Athletics European Championships in Stadskanaal, gold at the 2013 IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final in Birmingham, bronze at the 2013 World Championships in Lyon and double silver at the 2014 European Championships in Swansea.

He also finished fifth in the F41 Shot Put and eighth in the F41 Javelin on his Paralympic Games debut in London in 2012 – and finished fifth in both at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.

Now focusing on the F41 Shot Put, Kyron won silver at the World Para Championships in London, bronze at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai and gold at the 2020 British Championships.

In his last major competition before the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Kyron won silver at the 2021 World Para Athletics European Championships in Poland, with a best throw of 13.39m in a rain affected competition.

Kyron has served as an ambassador for the British charity Get Kids Going, which gives children and young adults with an impairment the opportunity to get involved in sport, and has studied sports massage at Cardiff and Vale College.

“I’m a lot different athlete, definitely a different person in myself especially becoming a Dad last year, early last year and that’s changed me loads. I look on not just life but my career in a whole different aspect and angle compared to what I did back 2,3 years ago, 4 years ago. I was professional but those Dad shoulders properly levelled me out and made me look and think at stuff in a whole different way.”

Career Highlights

2021 – Silver, WPA European Championships, Poland (F41 Shot Put)

2020 – Gold, British Championships (F41 Shot Put)

2019 – Bronze, World Para Athletics Championships, Dubai (F41 Shot Put)

2019 – Gold, World Para Athletics Grand Prix, Italy (F41 Shot Put)

2017 – Silver, World Para Championships, London (F41 Shot Put)

2017 – Gold, Welsh Championships (F41 Shot Put)

2016 – Gold, IPC Grand Prix (F40 Shot Put)

2016 – 5th, Paralympic Games, Rio (F41 Shot Put)

2016 – 5th, Paralympic Games, Rio (F41 Javelin)

2016 – 4th, European Championships, Italy (F41 Javelin)

2016 – 6th, European Championships, Italy (F41 Shot Put)

2015 – Bronze, World Para Championships, Doha (F41 Javelin)

2015 – Silver, IPC Grand Prix, Italy (F41 Shot Put)

2015 – Silver, IPC Grand Prix, Germany (F41 Shot Put)

2014 – Silver, European Championships, Swansea (F41 Shot Put)

2014 – Silver, European Championships, Swansea (F41 Javelin)

2013 – Silver, World Championships, France (F41 Javelin)

2013 – Bronze, World Championships, France (F41 Shot Put)

2013 – Gold, IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final, Birmingham (F41 Javelin)

2012 – 5th, Paralympic Games, London (F41 Shot Put)

2012 – 8th, Paralympic Games, London (F41 Javelin)

2012 – Bronze, IPC Athletics European Championships, the Netherlands (F41 Shot Put)

2012 – Bronze, IPC Athletics European Championships, the Netherlands (F41 Javelin)

2012 – Gold, Welsh Championships (F41 Shot Put)

2011 – Bronze, World Championships, New Zealand (F40 Javelin)

2011 – Gold, World Junior Championships, Dubai (F41 Javelin)

2011 – Silver, World Junior Championships, Dubai (F41 Shot Put)

2010 – 4th, World Junior Championships, Czech Republic (F41 Javelin)

2010 – 7th, World Junior Championships, Czech Republic (F41 Shot Put)

2010 – Gold, Berlin Open, Germany (F41 Javelin)

2010 – represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games, Delhi (Bench Press)

2009 – British Junior Powerlifting Champion

Jack grew up on an RAF military base with two options on how to entertain himself, ballet and judo. At the age of seven his mum persuaded him to give ballet a try. A few classes later Jack decided that judo was more for him!

Continuing to take part in judo wherever his dad’s military posting took them, it was clear he had a talent for it. Even a diagnosis of Ushers Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, in his early teens didn’t stand in his way and in 2015 he joined the Judo Centre of Excellence to train with the country’s best Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls.

At only 19 years of age, Jack made his Paralympic debut in Rio in 2016, coming 7th, and he looks forward to building on this invaluable experience in Tokyo, in a country he already feels at home in having visited regularly throughout his career due it being the birthplace of judo.

“Physically I am in good shape, mentally I am just ready to go. This cycle has been so long and it’s been so difficult that in my head I know that I have overcome more hardships than everyone else. I’ve had three surgeries in this cycle for injuries, I’ve had quite a lot of tears, I spent a good two and a half/three years off the mat in this cycle through injuries so I know that I have had to mentally overcome more than anyone else on the mat and the positive of these injuries is each time I’ve been injured I have had to come back just a little bit better and come back a stronger fighter.”

Career Highlights

2021 – 5th, IBSA Grand Prix – Warwick

2021 – 5th, IBSA Baku Grand Prix

2019 – 5th, IBSA Tashkent Grand Prix

2019 – Bronze, IBSA Paralympic Qualifier – Fort Wayne

2019 – 5th, Baku Grand Prix

2019 – Bronze, IBSA European Championships – Genoa

2018 – 5th, IBSA Antalya World Cup

2018 – Bronze, IBSA Infraero De Judo Grand Prix

2017 – Silver, IBSA Tashkent World Cup

2017 – 5th, IBSA European Championships – Walsall

2016 – 7th, Rio Paralympic Games

2016 – Silver, IBSA VI Grand Prix Birmingham

2015 – Silver, IBSA World Games – Seoul

2015 – Gold, IBSA World Junior Championships – Eger

2015 – Bronze, IBSA Eger World Cup

2015 – Bronze, IBSA European Championships – Lisbon

Aged 10, a clot on his brain resulted in Paul suffering a massive stroke, leaving him with left sided hemiplegia.

Having been a keen football player, Paul found that he could put his excellent hand-eye co-ordination to good use when he was introduced to table tennis at a local youth club.

Within two years he was playing in the Swansea League and was selected to play for the GB Para Table Tennis Team at the age of 16 in the European Championships, winning a team bronze medal.

In 2013 Paul claimed medals in Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia and represented GB in the European Championships in Italy, winning bronze in the men’s class 7 team event with Will Bayley.

At the end of 2013 he went to the US Open in San Diego and claimed gold in the men’s class 7 singles, defeating former Paralympic Champion Mitchell Seidenfeld (USA) in the final. He also teamed up with Beijing and London Paralympic champion Jochen Wollmert (Germany) to win the men’s class 6-7 team event.

In 2014 Paul won team gold in Slovenia, silver in Italy and Slovakia and then claimed a bronze medal with Will Bayley in the men’s 6-7 team event at the World Championships in China.

At the start of the 2015 season Paul was reclassified as a class 6 athlete and he won gold in the singles in Hungary and Slovenia and silver in Italy. He reached the semi-finals of the European Championships in Denmark, losing a very close match to the reigning European and former World and Paralympic champion Peter Rosenmeier but took silver in the team event.

In 2017 Paul was part of the men’s class 6 team that won bronze in the World Team Championships and then came from 2-0 down to win the singles match that secured gold for GB in the men’s class 6 team event at the European Championships in Slovenia. He was part of the team that retained the European title in Sweden in 2019.

Tokyo 2020 will be Paul’s fourth Paralympic Games!

“Mostly it’s the love of the sport and the enjoyment of it for me. I still enjoy it and I still love to train and still love to compete and I think that’s really important. I think that’s been a major factor in my longevity in the sport!”

Career Highlights

2019 – Gold, European Championships, Sweden (Men’s Teams Class 6)

2017 – Gold, European Championships, Slovenia (Men’s Teams Class 6)

2017 – Bronze, World Team Championships, Slovakia (Men’s Team Class 6)

2016 – Paralympic Games, Rio

2015 – Silver, European Championships, Denmark (Men’s Team Class 6)

2015 – Bronze, European Championships, Denmark (Men’s Singles Class 6)

2014 – Bronze, World Championships, China (Men’s Team Class 6-7)

2013 – Gold, US Open (Men’s Singles Class 7)

2013 – Gold, US Open (Men’s Team Class 6-7)

2013 – Bronze, European Championships, Italy (Men’s Team Class 7)

2012 – Paralympic Games, London

2008 – Paralympic Games, Beijing

As a teenager, Tom had his sights set on becoming a professional mountain biker when a fall in March 2009 broke his neck and left him wheelchair bound at the age of 16.

While undergoing rehab in Rookwood Hospital in Llandaff, he was encouraged to try table tennis by Jim Munkley from Disability Sport Wales and former Paralympian Sara Head, who worked at the hospital as a volunteer.

Tom made his International table tennis debut at the 2013 Hungarian Open and was invited to join the GB Pathway Squad. At the end of that year, he was part of the GB squad in the US Open in San Diego and he exceeded all expectations by taking silver in the class 1 men’s singles and a bronze in the class 1-2 men’s teams.

In 2014 achievements included team medals in Slovenia and Romania, while in 2015 began Tom claimed bronze in the singles at the Hungarian Open. More medals followed, including bronze in the singles and gold in the team (with fellow Welshman Rob Davies), at the Bayreuth Open in Germany.

Tom was selected to compete for GB in the European Championships in Denmark, and in his first major Championship he took bronze in the men’s class 1 singles and then partnered Rob Davies to gold in the men’s class 1 team event.

In extreme heat, Tom then went on to win two silver medals in the Copa Costa Rica in December.

Tom began 2016 by taking bronze in the men’s class 1 singles in Italy, but a broken leg in April put him out of action for most of the year. He returned at the US Open in December to take gold in the singles, coming from 2-0 down in the final to beat the world number five KiWon Nam (South Korea) 11-9 in the fifth.

In 2017 Tom moved from the GB Pathway Squad to the Performance Squad and partnered fellow Welshman Paul Davies to win bronze in the World Team Championships in Slovakia. He was then part of an historic one-two-three for GB in the men’s class 1 singles, losing to Paralympic champion Rob Davies in the final after showing great character and fight to come back from 2-1 down to beat Federico Falco (Italy) in the semi-final.

In 2018 the results kept on coming winning gold in the Italian Open and claiming bronze in his first World Championships, losing in the semi-finals to World number one Young Dae Joo (South Korea).

Tom is now looking forward to playing on the world’s biggest stage in Tokyo!

“It’s hard to put into words to be honest, I can’t really put it into words, you can probably see by the smile on my face. Every time someone mentions Tokyo, I have a beaming smile on my face. I am so proud; I am so glad I’ve made it and I know my family are proud and everyone around me is proud so I can’t really put it into words. I’m just really over the moon to go out there and can’t wait to get out there to be honest.”

Career Highlights

2020 – Bronze, Polish Open (Men’s Singles Class 1)

2019 – Bronze, Dutch Open (Men’s Singles Class 1)

2018 – Bronze, World Championships, Slovenia (Men's Singles Class 1)

2018 – Silver, Slovenia Open (Men’s Teams Class 1)

2018 – Gold, Lignano Master Open, Italy (Men's Singles Class 1)

2018 – Silver, Lignano Master Open, Italy (Men's Teams Class 1)

2017 – Silver, European Championships, Slovenia (Men's Singles Class 1)

2017 – Gold, Bayreuth Open, Germany (Men's Singles Class 1)

2017 – Bronze, World Team Championships, Slovakia (Men's Singles Class 1)

2016 – Gold, US Open (Men's Singles Class 1)

2016 – Bronze, Lignano Master Open, Italy (Men's Singles Class 1)

2015 – Silver, Copa Costa Rica (Men's Singles Class 1)

2015 – Silver, Copa Costa Rica (Men's Teams Class 1)

2015 – Gold, European Championships, Denmark (Men’s Teams Class 1)

2015 – Bronze, European Championships, Denmark (Men’s Singles Class 1)

2015 – Gold, Bayreuth Open, Germany (Men’s Teams Class 1)

2015 – Bronze, Bayreuth Open, Germany (Men’s Single Class 1)

2015 – Bronze, Slovakia Open (Men’s Teams Class 1)

2015 – Silver, Lignano Master Open, Italy (Men’s Teams Class 1)

2015 – Silver, Hungarian Open (Men’s Teams Class 1)

2015 – Bronze, Hungarian Open (Men’s Singles Class 1)

2014 – Bronze, Romania Open (Men’s Teams Class 1)

2014 – Bronze, Slovenia Open (Men’s Teams Class 1)

2013 – Silver, US Open, San Diego (Men’s Singles Class 1)

2013 – Bronze, US Open, San Diego (Men’s Teams Class 1)

At 21-years old, Josh Stacey is the youngest Welsh athlete to compete at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Having won gold at the 2017 Belgium Open, the Cardiff player, who has cerebral palsy, won bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia in the Men’s TT6-10 Singles.

Josh won silver at the 2019 Finland Open. He fought back from 2-1 down to beat Kusnanto (Indonesia) 3-2, before defeating the world silver medallist Iurii Nozdrunov (Russia) 3-1 to secured top place in his group. In the knockout stages, he beat Bart Van Der Zanden (Netherlands) 3-0 and then Facey Thompson (GB) 3-0 to go through to the final – where he was beaten 3-1 by the European silver medallist Lev Kats (Ukraine).

Josh became U21 Welsh National Champion last year and is currently ranked world number eight in the Class 9 Singles, having won multiple medals at IPTT Opens around the world.

“You can tell there’s a bit of anticipation and excitement going on which is obviously lovely to be around and it’s definitely going to be a Games to remember.”

“I think I am probably lucky that I am one of the few athletes that I am going to the Games for the first time so I don’t know what it was like pre-Covid and I think that lack of exposure will work to my benefit when there is no crowd and there’s not as much noise in the arena to what my other team mates are used to so I think those kinds of things will definitely work in my favour.”

Career Highlights

2020 – Welsh U21 National Champion

2019 – Silver, Finland Open

2018 – Bronze, Commonwealth Games, Australia

2017 – Gold, Belgium Open

John Stubbs is Great Britain’s most successful archer and will compete in Tokyo at his 4th Paralympic Games. Achievements on the International stage include a men’s individual gold medal from the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing and a multitude of world titles.

After a motorbike accident John played disabled cricket having always been a keen cricketer but he then discovered archery at a disabled sports club in 1994 and totally fell in love with the sport! Since then, by his own admission archery has been his life.

In what has been an amazing career, John has won numerous medals at World and European Championships and the Paralympic Games and he was awarded an MBE in 2005.

The 2013 World Para-archery Championships in Thailand was particularly poignant as John won two gold medals and a silver on the anniversary of his accident.

His career-defining moment was winning gold at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and he is looking forward to representing Paralympics GB in Tokyo.

“For me it’s always special, I’ve been to so many World Championships, Europeans, won multiples as well but Paralympic Games is special and when the flame is ignited, that’s what gets my heart a flutter and it makes it special then.”

Career Highlights

2016 – Silver, Paralympic Games, Rio (Mixed Team)

2015 – Silver, World Championships, Germany (Mixed Team)

2015 – Bronze, World Championships, Germany (Men’s Individual)

2014 – Bronze, European Para-Archery Championships, Switzerland (Men’s Individual and Mixed Team)

2014 – Bronze, First Asian Grand Prix, Bangkok (Mixed Team)

2013 – Gold, World Para Archery Championships, Bangkok (Men’s Individual and Team)

2013 – Silver, World Para Archery Championships, Bangkok (Mixed Team)

2011 – Silver, IPC World Championships, Turin (Men’s Individual)

2010 – Bronze, Arizona Cup, Phoenix (Men’s Individual)

2010 – Bronze, European Para Championships, Vichy (Men’s Individual)

2009 – Gold, European Archery Disabled Invitational Tournament, Stoke Mandeville

2009 – Silver, IPC World Championships, Nymburk (Men's Team)

2008 – Gold, Paralympic Games, Beijing (Men’s Individual)

2008 – Gold, World Invitational Disabled Competition, Stoke Mandeville (Men’s Individual)

2005 – Gold, IPC World Archery Championships, Massa Carrara (Men’s Individual)

2005 – Silver, IPC World Archery Championships, Massa Carrara (Team)

2003 – Silver, IPC World Archery Championships, Madrid (Teams)

Georgia Wilson will make her Paralympic Games debut in Tokyo, riding Sakura – a seven-year-old chestnut mare, owned by herself and her parents Geoff and Julie Wilson.

Georgia, who has cerebral palsy, started riding when she was just two years old after her mum was advised by Georgia’s physio that it would help with her balance.

Georgia’s first pony was a Shetland called Diana, who was followed by a pony called Poppy.

Georgia joined the Pony Club and the RDA at Clwyd SRC, attending her first RDA nationals on Aaron, a palomino pony. That’s when she got the bug for dressage, and she also competed with BYRDs Wales team.

Georgia is no stranger to making her debut in big competitions. In her first European Para-dressage Championships in Rotterdam in 2019, she won gold in the grade II individual freestyle competition, riding Midnight.

At the same tournament, Georgina won silver in both the individual and teams (with Sophie Wells)

Georgia joins Sir Lee Pearson, Natasha Baker and Sophie Wells in Paralympic GB’s equestrian squad.

“Ever since I started horse riding, competing in the Paralympics has always been my aim, my top dream and it’s actually becoming a reality now which is just amazing!”

Career Highlights

2020 – presented with a British Equestrian Federation Award at the 2020 British Horse Foundation Awards in London

2019 – freestyle gold / team and individual silver, FEI European Championships, Rotterdam (riding Midnight)