The three athletes are emblematic of ParalympicsGB’s stunning success at Rio 2016, where the team defied expectations to smash their medal target and win 147 medals including 64 gold, 12% of all gold medals on offer in Rio. It was the British team’s most successful Games since Tel Aviv in 1968 and comfortably secured a second place spot on the medal table, with medals returned in 15 of the 19 sports in which ParalympicsGB competed.

Sophie Christiansen OBE successfully defended her three titles from London 2012, bringing her career total to eight Paralympic gold medals. Competing in her fourth Paralympic Games, the 29-year-old has cemented her position at the top of her sport and was one of two British Paralympians to win three Equestrian gold medals in Rio, alongside Natasha Baker MBE.

Kadeena Cox made her Games debut in style, becoming the first British athlete to win gold medals in two sports at the same Games since 1984. Her first Paralympic gold medal came in the velodrome, where she claimed victory in the women’s C4-5 500m time trial, before swapping to the track to strike gold in the T38 400m final, securing both medals with a world record time. She also won bronze in the T38 100m final and helped the GB women to win silver in the T35-38 4x100m.

One of the most experienced athletes on the team, Dame Sarah Storey marked her seventh Games appearance by becoming GB’s most decorated female Paralympian of all time. Her three Paralympic gold medals, across events in the velodrome and on the road, firmly secured her place in the record books. Since she first made her Paralympic debut at Barcelona 1992, Storey has increased her total haul to 14 gold medals won in both swimming and cycling.

Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association, said:

“2016 has been a truly exceptional year for British sport. As always, the shortlist will no doubt create a healthy level of debate and so many more of our athletes could have been nominated given their performances in Rio.  But while we might like to have seen more, the three Paralympians nominated today are representative of a team which delivered outstanding results in Rio. We are proud to raise a toast to their individual success, and that of the team as a whole, on the night of one of the biggest celebrations in sport.”

Penny Briscoe MBE, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, said: 

“I am so proud to see ParalympicsGB represented in this year’s shortlist by three of our most decorated athletes and I would like to congratulate each of the nominees. If you look through the list of achievements from our historic team in Rio, you will see that we are absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to potential nominees. It is fantastic to see the recognition of these athletes on the shortlist alongside such incredible sporting talent, and I urge the British public show their support on the night and vote for their Paralympians.”

Today’s news follows the recent unveiling of the shortlist of 10 nominees for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, which features three ParalympicsGB debutants who all struck gold in Rio: Ellie Robinson (swimming), Lauren Rowles (rowing) and Jessica Stretton (archery). The top three will be announced during Blue Peter on December 8.

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016 will be decided by public vote during the live show on the evening of December 18. Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan will present the programme from 18:40 GMT on BBC One, with further coverage on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website.

A refugee swimmer Ibrahim Al Hussein IPA reacts after competing in Heat 1 of the Men’s 50m Freestyle – S9 Swimming at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium. The Paralympic Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday 13th September 2016. Photo: Simon Bruty for OIS/IOC. 

Syrian refugee Ibrahim Al Hussein has described 2016 as the best year of his life and said the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games were a big part of that.

Al Hussein, who had part of his leg blown off in a rocket attack when he went to the aid of a friend during the civil war in his home country, was one of two athletes that made up the first ever Independent Paralympic Athletes (IPA) team at Rio 2016.

Ahead of and during Rio 2016, the team was supported financially by the IPC’s international partner Allianz SE who helped fund the cost of participation in Rio for the IPC team. Al Hussein and teammate Shahrad Nasajpour competed in the Games under the International Paralympic flag. The pair was the first team to march and led the parade of athletes at the Opening Ceremony on 7 September.

During the Games Al Hussein set two personal bests competing in the 50m and 100m freestyle swimming events. This, he said, left him with great memories of Rio and enabled him to meet many new friends – which he says is far better than winning a medal.

Nasajpour is originally from Iran and now lives in the United States. He competed in the F37 discuss event and finished 11th. He said it was like a dream for him to make it to Rio for the Paralympic Games.

In addition to Allianz SE’s financial support of the IPA team, Allianz Worldwide Care provided insurance cover for the team whilst in Rio.

Xavier Gonzalez, IPC Chief Executive Officer, said:

“I would like to thank our international partner Allianz SE for their tremendous support of the Independent Paralympic Athletes team.

“Thanks to their continued support of the Paralympic Movement,  two refugee athletes have been able to fulfil their dream to compete at a Paralympic Games in front of millions of spectators and billions of TV viewers.

“Allianz SE’s support has helped the world see the ability of Paralympic sport to bring about social change through the story of this team and the two athletes.

“We are delighted these athletes have been able to push their bodies to the ultimate limits here in Rio and really transform everybody they’ve come into contact with as a result.”

Tony Sainsbury, a five-time Chef de Mission of the British Paralympic team, served as the Chef de Mission for the IPA Team in Rio. He said:

“Unfortunately there are many conflicts around the world.

“Hopefully, in refugee camps around the world, refugees with impairments will see that opportunities do exist.”

In addition to Allianz SE’s support of the IPA team, the company was also the first corporate partner to support the #FilltheSeats campaign. Their support acted as a catalyst to raising $450,000 to take 15,000 Brazilian children to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

As flagbearer Cox represented one of the most successful British Paralympic teams in history. The team has achieved the most gold medals by a British team since 1988, surpassing there medal target for the games.

Amongst the team there have been numerous ‘stand-out’ performances, but Cox’s achievements have been particularly exceptional.

Cox raced into the record books when she became the first British Paralympian since 1984 to top the podium in two different sports at the same Games. She initially struck gold in the C4/5 500m time trial in the velodrome before claiming victory in the T38 400m in the Olympic Stadium, setting a new world record in the process. Cox also started her quest for medals on the track with an impressive bronze in the T38 100m and ended it by playing a crucial role in winning silver as part of the women’s T35 – T38 4 x 100m relay.

Cox said:

“It was a bit of surprise to be told that I would be flagbearer for the team. I’m really grateful that the team thought that I was good enough for this honour, given the strength of performances across all the athletes [in ParalympicsGB] this time around. I’ve just been doing my own thing as an athlete, preparing and racing and I never thought of being flagbearer.

“It’s a great feeling to know that I’ll be standing at the front of such an exceptional group of athletes from GB, to represent what has been such a successful and high-achieving team.

“I only originally expected just to get to Rio, let alone win medals, so to do this is the icing on the cake of an amazing Games. I couldn’t have imagined this in my wildest dreams. To do something as special as carrying the flag is incredible.”

The choice of Kadeena as flagbearer was made by the Senior Leadership team, led by the Chef de Mission.

Penny Briscoe MBE, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission, said:

“Kadeena’s achievements in Rio have been absolutely remarkable, and she is the perfect choice to be our flagbearer. To strike gold in two sports is no mean feat, and it pays tribute to her talent, pride and determination and also the work of British Athletics and British Cycling, with the support of National Lottery funding, to help her achieve and surpass her goals.

“As the Games draw to a close we can begin to reflect on the exceptional performances of our athletes and this incredible medal haul. The Closing Ceremony is the perfect way to kick off the celebrations for this record breaking team. I am so proud of each and every member of the team.”

Copyright onEdition 2016©  Track athlete Libby Clegg and guide Chris Clarke, 200m T11 – Women, win gold competing for ParalympicsGB at the Rio Paralympic Games 2016.

On a day when the temperature soared in Rio, ParalympicsGB did not wilt in the heat and won six gold medals to draw level with the tally of 34 from London 2012.

There were second golds on the track for Libby Clegg and Georgina Hermitage as they won the T11 200m and T37 400m titles, respectively, with Hollie Arnold also taking gold in the F46 javelin.

Away from the Olympic stadium Stephanie Millward finally won a Paralympic gold, taking the S8 100m backstroke title as Matt Wylie was also successful in the pool, winning S9 50m freestyle gold.

And there were more medals in the pool as Ollie Hynd took S8 100m backstroke silver and Ellie Simmonds won S6 400m freestyle bronze.

The day’s other gold came as Rob Davies won the men’s singles (Class 1) table tennis title, and Piers Gilliver won ParalympicsGB’s first wheelchair fencing medal for 24 years, with silver in the Category A individual epee.

Copyright onEdition 2016© Wheelchair Tennis Players, Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley MBE, win bronze in the Women’s Doubles competing for ParalympicsGB at the Rio Paralympic Games 2016.

And the day’s remaining medals were both coloured bronze as Jordanne Whiley and Lucy Shuker took women’s doubles wheelchair tennis bronze, while colleagues Andy Lapthorne and Jamie Burdekin matched their achievement in the men’s quad doubles.

Action gets under way in the para-canoeing with the inspirational Jeanette Chippington seeking to make history.

The 46-year old made her Paralympic debut as a swimmer at the 1988 Games in Seoul, winning 12 medals in the pool in five consecutive Games.

She’s not appeared in ParalympicsGB colours in 12 years but since switching sports has won four world titles.

Four-time Paralympian Claire Cashmore will tackle the 100m breaststroke SB8 with a number of other swimmers in action in the pool while Sophie Wells and flag bearer Lee Pearson will be looking for dressage medals at the Olympic Equestrian Centre.

ParalympicsGB start their wheelchair rugby campaign against Australia but all eyes will be on the Ashes showdown in the quarter-final of the men’s wheelchair basketball.

At the Olympic Stadium, Maria Lyle, 16, will take on Australian rival Isis Holt, 15, in a fascinating head-to-head in the women’s 100m T35 final while David Weir is back on the track in the heats of the 800m T54.

And Hannah Cockroft will be hoping to lead a clean sweep on the podium as she lines up alongside Kare Adenegan and Melissa Nicholls in the 400m T34 final.

Elsewhere, archers and shooters will be looking to be on target in the elimination and qualification rounds respectively while better conditions will be hoped for at the sailing regatta, where Helena Lucas, the defending champion in the one-person keelboat, leads her class.

Epee silver medallist Piers Gilliver is back in the action in the individual foil category B alongside team-mate Dimitri Coutya.

And Dame Sarah Storey seeks to defend her road cycling C5 time trial title and claim her 13th career Paralympic gold.

Megan Giglia, who won the C1-2-3 3000m pursuit, also races in her time trial.

Action continues with individual pool matches in the boccia while the women’s class 1-3 table tennis players take on quarter-finalists Italy with the men’s class 1-2 team doing likewise against Brazil.

There is also pride and ranking position at stake for ParalympicGB’s seven-a-side football team, who play Argentina for fifth place.

And it promises to be a massive day for ParalympicsGB at the Olympic Tennis Centre.

Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett – who have made the doubles final together – will be in the semi-finals singles action at the wheelchair tennis, against Stephane Houdet and Joachim Gerard respectively.

And Andy Lapthorne, fresh from winning doubles bronze, takes on top seed, Australia’s Dylan Alcott, in the final of the quad men’s singles.

#FilltheSeats – Samsung to join the campaign to support Brazilian children attend the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Samsung has announced it is donating USD 50,000 to help more Brazilian youngsters attend the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and to ensure the stands continue to be packed with fans throughout the Games which run from 7 to 18 of September.

Samsung’s donation will support the global crowdfunding #FilltheSeats campaign which has now raised more than USD 300,000.

The campaign was started in late August by Greg Nugent, the former London 2012 marketing director.  US Paralympians Tatyana and Hannah McFadden quickly made their own personal donations as did thousands of fans and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) corporate supporters including Samsung.

“Samsung is dedicated to supporting those around the world who are defying barriers because we share the same heritage of overcoming obstacles,” said Helvio Tadashi Kanamaru, Senior Manager of Corporate Citizenship Group at Samsung Electronics Latin America. “By supporting #FilltheSeats, we seek to help showcase the essence of the Paralympic Games that inspires and celebrates the spirit of the human challenge and highlight the importance of
seeing ability over disability. For Samsung, this is the true meaning of the Paralympic Spirit.”

The #FilltheSeats campaign has surpassed all expectations.  The campaign originally aimed to raise USD 15,000 to send 500 youngsters to the Games. But that amount was raised in the first week.   Now the new target is to raise enough funds to pay for 10,000 tickets as well as to cover food, transportation and to watch unforgettable sport. (A cost of USD 30 per person.

While ticket sales for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games started slowly a few weeks ago, 1.8 million tickets have now been sold making the Games the second biggest ever in terms of tickets sales.

Many top events have been sold out and athletes have raving about the atmosphere in the venues in Rio.

On Saturday, 170,000 fans were on hand at the Olympic Park, the site of many of the venues.  That is the most people to visit the park in one day at either the Olympics or the Paralympics.

Samsung is the International Paralympic Committee’s Worldwide Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment Category.

All #FilltheSeats funds are being donated to the Paralympic Movement’s global governing body and the Agitos Foundation, the IPC’s development arm who are distributing the tickets to the Brazilian youth.

The money raised will pay for Brazilian children and people with an impairment to attend the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The programme is managed as part of Transforma Educacao, the Rio 2016 official education programme, and will target children from across the state of Rio de Janeiro. Their journeys will be co-ordinated and facilitated by a team of trained staff who have been working on the overall programme.

Any surplus or unspent funds will be donated to legacy projects in Brazil and South America focused on sport for people with an impairment.

Copyright onEdition 2016©
Swimmer Ellie Simmonds OBE, 200m Individual Medley SM6 – Women, from Aldridge, Preston, wins gold for ParalympicsGB at the Rio Paralympic Games 2016.

By Barney Cullum

The verdict at the half-way point here in Brazil is that the Rio Games have delivered. Not my words, but the words of Paralympics GB’s top athletes.

Many thought the Games might flounder due to slow ticket sales, reports of inadequate accommodation and other issues.

However, swimming royalty Ellie Simmonds – who won her first Rio gold last night – said Brazil had accommodated all of the athletes’ needs and the local public had spurred her on to her latest success.

“There have been no challenges and it’s just been so much fun racing in front of these amazing crowds.”

The Estadio Aquatico was sold out again last night, as it has been for every evening session.

Wheelchair basketball captain Terry Bywater, who has led Britain through to the quarter finals with four wins out of five, has been most taken by the intensity of the spectators.

“I’ve been to five Games and people always come to the Paralympics to get inspired, but in Rio they’re coming for the sport.”

“Wheelchair basketball matters and they think the sport is fantastic here.”

Players in action during the GBR Great Britain vs BRA Brazil Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Group B Preliminary, Match 30, at the Carioca Arena 1. The Paralympic Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday 10th September 2016. Photo: Thomas Lovelock for OIS/IOC. 

15,000 spectators filled Carioca Arena One for the host nation’s clash with GB in the wheelchair basketball on Saturday night.

Played out against a soundtrack of relentless singing and tribal chants – and high-pitched shrieks at the brutal defending – it was a thrilling occasion.

“Before we flew out we heard a lot of stories, but I just want to thank Brazil because the passion has been tremendous,” added Terry.

Jordanne Whiley, the reigning Wimbledon wheelchair doubles champion, said Brazil had proved all the doubters wrong.

“Everyone was a little bit worried before we got here but once we arrived I was like, ‘what has everyone been complaining about?’”

“The Paralympic Village is beautiful and the noise on centre court has been incredible.”

“I think Paralympians both inside and outside of Brazil will get more media coverage and access to better sponsorship now because the crowds have shown how much interest there is.”

William John Bayley GBR wins 3-1 against Israel Pereira Stroh BRA in the Men’s Singles – Class 7 Gold Medal Match at the Riocentro – Pavilion 3. Monday 12th September 2016. Photo: Thomas Lovelock for OIS/IOC.

It proved to be an exciting finish to day five in Rio as a quick-fire hat-trick of swimming victories took the tally to 28 gold medals.

The day began with Will Bayley winning the men’s table tennis singles (Class 7), and celebrating by climbing on the table, hugging the umpire and jumping on his coach’s shoulders.

Over in the Olympic Stadium Aled Davies won F42 shot put gold, while Jonathan Broom-Edwards took silver in the T44 high jump, and there was another silver in the mixed team compound archery for Jodie Grinham and John Stubbs.

But the other evening’s action came in the pool as Sascha Kindred (200m individual medley SM6), Ellie Simmonds (200m indiviudal medley SM6) and Susie Rodgers (50m butterfly S7) were all victorious in 38 golden minutes for ParalympicsGB.

Eleanor “Ellie” Simmonds GBR competing in the Women’s 200m IM – SM6 Heat 2 in the Olympic Aquatics Stadium. The Paralympic Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , Monday 12th September 2016. Photo: Simon Lodge for OIS/IOC. 

After taking gold in the 200m individual medley S6, Simmonds will return to the pool in search of a third consecutive S6 400m S6 freestyle gold, as wheelchair racer David Weir looks to achieve the same in the T54 1500m on day six.

Joining Simmonds in the pool in the same event will be Ellie Robinson, while Alice Tai, Ollie Hynd and the Stephanies, Millward and Slater, are just some of the others in action today.

While Weir looks to defend a title, Stephen Miller, Georgina Hermitage and Stephen Osborne also have shots at gold in the Olympic Stadium.

At the Olympic Tennis Centre there are two medal chances for ParalympicsGB with Andy Lapthorne and Jamie Burdekin going for bronze in the men’s quad doubles and Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley also doing likewise in the women’s doubles. Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett face men’s single quarter-finals, as well as a doubles semi-final together.

While at Riocentro, Robert Davies goes for gold in the men’s table tennis class one singles against Korea’s Joo Young Dae.

Tuesday also sees the start of ParalympicsGB’s wheelchair fencing campaign as Dimitri Coutya goes in the men’s individual epee category B preliminary rounds, while Gemma Collis and Piers Gilliver also enter the fray.

In the boccia David Smith begins the BC1 mixed individual event, with Joshua Rowe and Nigel Murray in the BC2, while Kieran Steer and Stephen McGuire go in the BC4 event.

Natasha Baker completes ParalympicsGB’s first involvement in the equestrian Team Test after strong outings for Sophie Wells, Sophie Christiansen and Anne Dunham on Monday.

The women’s wheelchair basketball team has reached the quarter-final stage where they take on China, while recurve archer David Phillips begins his men’s individual campaign in the 1/16 elimination round.

From dry land to the Marina da Gloria and ParalympicsGB have sailors going in the one, two and three-person keelboat classes, with Helena Lucas well placed after Monday’ssailing.

And at the Olympic shooting range Karen Butler and Lorraine Lambert compete in the R8 women’s 50m rifle, three-position, competition, while James Bevis, Ryan Cockbill and Tim Jeffery start their R5 mixed 10m air rifle, prone, qualification campaign.