How many athletes in Paralympic Games are from Georgia & who’s coming home with medals?
Following the end of the 2024 Olympics earlier this summer, Paris is currently hosting the Paralympics Games, which started on Wednesday, Aug. 28 and end Sunday, Sept. 8.
The Paralympics, an international competition for athletes with disabilities, are usually located in the same city as the Olympic Games. The Games, which take place every two years, first started in 1960.
Which sports are part of the summer games?
The Paralympics includes 22 sports: athletics, archery, badminton, blind football, boccia, canoe, cycling, equestrian, goalball, judo, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.
Which states have the most athletes in the 2024 Paralympics?
Team U.S.A. sent 225 athletes from 39 states to the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Six Paralympians are from Georgia.
Minnesota is home to the most Paralympians per 1 million people in the state, with 11 athletes (1.93 per million) competing. Washington, Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa follow closely behind.
Who are Georgia’s athletes and where are they from?
Goalball
Matt Simpson of Atlanta
Simpson competed in 2016 and 2020, earning a silver in the 2016 Rio games. He learned of goalball in 1999 at a U.S. Association of Blind Athletes sports education camp. He has a law degree from the University of Virginia.
Para Swimming
McKenzie Coan of Clarkesville
Coan won four gold, three silver since 2012. She started swimming for aquatic therapy when she was 5 years old.
Gia Pergolini of Atlanta
Pergolini is a two-time Paralympian, three-time medalist (two gold, one silver). In Paris, she earned a gold in the 100 meter backstroke and a silver in the 50 meter freestyle. In Tokyo, she took home a gold for the 100 meter backstroke.
Para Track and Field
Ryan Medrano of Savannah
Two silver (100m T38 - Men, 400m T38 - Men) and sixth place (Long Jump T38 - Men), this is his first Paralympics, qualifying in sprints and jumps. He discovered the sport after competing on CBS’ “Survivor.”
Jarryd Wallace of Athens
Three-time Paralympian, one-time bronze medalist (2020 200 meter). Within 12 weeks of his amputation, Wallace had his first running blade. He won his first international medal and set a world record 15 months after his amputation. Wallace lives by the mantra, “My body is as able as my mind is willing.”
Wheelchair basketball
Bailey Moody of John’s Creek
According to her website, Moody is from John’s Creek, but Team USA has her listed as a resident of Alpharetta. Moody earned one bronze since first Paralympics in 2020. The University of Alabama graduate wears number 43 in honor of Philip Lutzenkirchen, a former Auburn University football who died in a drunk driving accident. Her first wheelchair basketball team was the Blazesports Jr. Hawks.
Check out this map to see where Paralympic athletes are from in your state. Click on a dot to see more information about each athlete.
Which medals are given out to winners?
Like the Olympic medals, the medals for the Paralympics are made with a piece of iron from the Eiffel Tower. The Paralympic medals also include engravings and Braille.
Team USA has won the most medals of any country in the Paralympics since the games began.
How can I watch the Paralympic Games?
Viewers can follow the games on the Paralympics YouTube channel, on the International Paralympic Committee website, on NBC or with Peacock.
This story was originally published September 4, 2024 at 7:25 PM.