The UK’s remarkable achievements at the 2024 Paris Paralympics have once again solidified its standing as a world leader in para sports.
Building on decades of excellence, the British team delivered an incredible 124 medals at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris including 49 golds, further reinforcing its reputation for consistency and success on the world stage.
Since their debut at the inaugural Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, ParalympicsGB has remained a dominant force, never finishing outside the top five in the medal table. For the third consecutive Games, they secured second place and equalled a record by winning medals in 18 of the 19 sports they competed in—a feat unmatched by any other nation.
The success of many ParalympicsGB athletes is deeply rooted in the UK’s thriving university sports programs, as evidenced by the 34 medals, including 17 golds, won by students with connections to institutions across the country.
We’ve highlighted some of the standout performers from the Paris Games, whose experiences in university sport have contributed to their achievements on the global stage.
Grace Harvey
University of Manchester, Swimming
University of Manchester sport scholar, Grace Harvey earned her first Paralympic gold medal in the 100m breaststroke (SB5). Currently pursuing a master’s in Dental Public Health, she is one of the university’s most accomplished student-athletes, earning multiple BUCS titles, and medals at both European and World Championships.
Dimitri Coutya
Cardiff University, Fencing
In his third Paralympic Games, the reigning European champion delivered an exceptional performance in Paris, winning gold in both the foil and épée Category B events. A former Sociology student at Cardiff University, Dimitri now trains at the Wheelchair Fencing National Training Centre at the University of Bath.
Olivia Broome
Loughborough University, Powerlifting
Loughborough University student and para powerlifter Olivia Broome has been training in the university’s world-class sports facilities while studying Sport Science. The 23-year-old became a back-to-back Paralympic medallist, securing bronze in the women’s up to 50kg category with an impressive 119kg lift, mirroring her third-place finish from Tokyo 2020.
Karé Adenegan
University of Warwick, Athletics
University of Warwick alumni, Karé added two silver medals in the 100m and 800m T34 classification, bringing her total Paralympic medal tally to seven across three Games. Karé was a key member of Warwick’s Sport Performance team before graduating in 2022, where she made full use of the university’s excellent sports facilities to prepare for major competitions.
David Ellis
Northumbria University, Triathlon
Former Northumbria University student David Ellis clinched gold in the men’s PTVI triathlon, adding to his impressive collection of world, European, and Commonwealth titles. As a student-athlete, David enjoyed success by winning multiple BUCS Swimming titles and began his Paralympic journey as a swimmer in Beijing 2008 before switching to triathlon.
Want to learn more about UK University Para Sports?
The extraordinary success of athletes affiliated with UK universities at the 2024 Paris Paralympics highlights the vital support provided by institutions across the UK and their role in nurturing and developing elite para athletes.
From adaptive gyms to specialised training programs, UK universities offer students the chance to compete and develop in a supportive and inclusive environment across a wide range of para sports.
Learn more about Para Sports at UK Universities below.
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