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.

Flag bearing Paralympian ‘Queen Kadeena’ returns to heroes’ welcome and gold Union Jack wheels courtesy of Carbon Black

Forget golden post boxes in the home towns of returning Olympic and paralympian athletes, a company that manufactures F1 Wheelchairs has put a distinct twist on the tradition by welcoming their Rio hero home to a pair of golden union flag wheels.

Kadeena Cox, the first Paralympian in almost 30 years to win Gold medals in two separate disciplines and who was selected to carry the Union Jack for Team GB in the closing ceremony in Rio, returned home to a permanent and personal reminder of her achievements, thanks to Carbon Black.

Carbon Black, based in Scotland and Oxfordshire created the ‘Formula 1’ inspired wheelchair to be used by multiple medalist Kadeena while not on the athletics track or in the Velodrome, produced two stunning Gold Union flag wheels for her chair as a welcome home gift.

Kadeena, 25, who won two Gold medals, a Silver and a Bronze, said this week:

“The last few weeks have been a dream and to be selected to carry the Union flag was a real honour. Now, arriving back to such a warm welcome and my own gold flag wheels, is a real welcome home-coming.”

“I am delighted to have achieved what I have and be a role model for other athletes not to give up, no matter what life throws at you – it’s amazing what you can do it with hard work and determination.”

Kadeena took part in the returning Olympic and Paralympic heroes processions through Manchester and London and met HM The Queen, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace.

“The Queen asked me about the weight of the medals and I told her that I had developed some additional neck muscles to carry them,” she said.

Two years ago the Leeds sprinter who now lives and trains in Manchester, had the world at her feet until a stroke – the first symptom of what was later diagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS) – almost ended her athletic ambitions.

During her preparation for the Paralympics, Kadeena, who lives in Sale, approached Carbon Black to be a Rio Games Ambassador for the brand. She uses the chair as a rest point in between races because the extensive pressure the different events put upon her body.

The distinctive chair built by F1 carbon fibre engineers in Oxfordshire was also the transportation of choice for disability campaigner and presenter Sophie Morgan who was commentating on the Games for Channel 4.

Carbon Black was one of a handful of British businesses in Rio during the Paralympics exploring trade deals with Brazil led by a Prince Edward.

Carbon Black System was the only Scottish company and one of just five UK firms selected to form part in the delegation in Rio and Sao Paola as guests of Ambassador to Brazil Alex Ellis.

Supported by Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Venture Capital, Carbon Black was joined by Kadeena at GB House, the British Embassy in Rio as part of the “Pitch At The Paras’ trade initiative.

Carbon Black won the opportunity to pitch to potential Brazillian investors out of thousands of British companies because of the chair’s contribution to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

Paul Lettice, Carbon Black Chairman, said:

“Kadeena’s achievements have been absolutely incredible, as have all the medal winners for Team GB during these Paralympic Games.”

“In addition, being invited to the British Embassy was a great honour for us and a fantastic platform to promote British and Scottish enterprise on a world stage.

“We presented in Rio and San Paolo in front of Price Edward and the UK Government to potential investors and distributors from Brazil – one of the BRIC countries, and one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world. We had a fantastic response and a lot of interest.

“Now we intend to use the Rio trip as a springboard to work extensively with Scottish Development International (SDI) and wider UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) over the coming months. We have planned meetings with SDI and UKTI in Norway, Denmark and Switzerland, and have reached out to France, Spain, Italy and Germany.”

Wheelchair-Fencer, Dimitri Coutya took on Tough Mudder on Saturday in aid of disabled children in Africa.

On Saturday 24 September, ParalympicGB fencer Dimitri Coutya, took part in the West Sussex Tough Mudder challenge. Arms, legs and wheels took on the gruelling SAS-style military course together with 10,000 others.

18-year old Dimitri returned from the Rio 2016 Paralympic games just days before the event, completing 95% of obstacles with the help of his 18 team-mates. The T4 Paraplegic left his custom-made wheelchair to plunge into ice cold water, scale 10’ walls, crawl through mud under barbed wire and be carried through live electric wires.

Dimitri tells us: “[Spectators] were surprised – they obviously never dreamed of something like this happening, let alone seeing it.”

The Paralympian and his team hope to raise £5000 to support the work of AbleChildAfrica, a London based charity working with some of the world’s most vulnerable disabled children. Funds raised will ensure that sport is available to those the charity supports. There is still time left to donate by texting ‘MUDD14 £10’ to 70070 or via this link: http://tinyurl.com/acatough.

Dimitri Coutya, says: “Sport has [played] a big part in increasing my confidence and giving me things to push…towards in life, so the opportunity to…do the same for disabled children in Africa was something I instantly enjoyed the thought of taking part in.”

Anne Wafula- Strike (ex-GB wheelchair Paralympian and Patron of AbleChildAfrica) first completed Tough Mudder in 2013, and was part of this years team, says: “We’re raising funds for AbleChildAfrica, a very small charity that is supporting people living with disability to be included in the community. That’s why we decided to go through pain, [to] create awareness of what it’s like to be disabled in Africa.”

Mark Bullock (former Wheelchair Tennis manager for International Tennis Federation and member of the International Paralympic Committee and Paralympic Games Committee) says: “When Dimitri lost grip on the wet monkey bars and plunged into the water his immediate reaction was ‘Again, again’.”

AbleChildAfrica, a UK-based charity empowering disabled children in Africa. They are the leading UK charity working exclusively with and for disabled children in Africa. Around 15% of the world’s population is disabled, that’s 1 in every 7 people. Of those, approximately 80% live in developing countries and 150 million are children. Just last year, AbleChildAfrica reached 5,000 children. For more information please contact 0207 793 4144 or savraj@ablechildafrica.org.uk.

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.

Track and cycling athlete Kadeena Cox, who is the flag bearer for ParalympicsGB at the Rio Paralympic Games 2016 closing ceremony. Copyright onEdition 2016 ©

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.

Historic ParalympicsGB performances include:

Cyclist Dame Sarah Storey DBE (C4-5) from Manchester, wins a gold medal for ParalympicsGB in the Road race with Daughter Louisa at the Rio Paralympic Games 2016. Copyright onEdition 2016 ©

Dame Sarah Storey surpassing Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson as Great Britain’s most successful female Paralympian ever on 14 golds with victory in the C5 3000m individual pursuit. The 38-year-old went on to add further golds in the C5 time trial and women’s C4-5 road race.

Kadeena Cox becoming the first British athlete to win gold medals in two sports at the same Games since 1984 after victory in the women’s cycling C4-5 500m time trial and then the 400m T38 final on the athletics track. Cox also won bronze in the women’s T38 final and silver in the women’s 4x100m T35-38 final.

An extraordinary regatta at Lagoa saw ParalympicsGB’s rowers win medals in all four classes – the first nation ever to do so at a Paralympic Games – including three golds and a bronze. 

Jeanette Chippington GBR wins the Gold Medal in the Women’s KL1 Final. Canoe Sprint at the Lagoa Stadium. The Paralympic Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday 15th September 2016. Photo: Al Tielemans for OIS/IOC. 

Additional history made at the same venue, this time in canoeing as Jeanette Chippington became the first ever Paralympic canoe champion when she won the women’s KL1 final. It was one of five medals won by ParalympicsGB’s sprint canoeists with three golds and two bronzes over the six finals. All female British Paralympians competing at Lagoa picked up medals.

Andy Lewis becoming the first ParalympicsGB athlete to win a medal in triathlon by taking gold in the PT2 class.

Piers Gilliver winning ParalympicsGB’s first wheelchair fencing medal since 1992 with individual epee silver.

ParalympicsGB’s women’s W1 archers completing a clean sweep of the medal podium with Jessica Stretton taking gold ahead of Jo Frith and Vicky Jenkins – a first for both Team GB or ParalympicsGB since 1996, when it was achieved in Lawn Bowls.

Wheelchair Basketball player (Men) Ian Sagar from Barnsley, wins a bronze medal for ParalympicsGB at the Rio Paralympic Games 2016. Copyright onEdition 2016 ©

ParalympicsGB men’s wheelchair basketball clinching their third bronze medal in four Games with the women’s team finishing fourth for their highest-ever finish at a Paralympic Games.

ParalympicsGB equestrian team win 11 medals and seven gold, beating their London haul while Natasha Baker, Sophie Christiansen, Anne Dunham and Sophie Wells retained the team title, ensuring ParalympicsGB remain unbeaten in the sport since the sport’s first outing at Atlanta in 1996.

Wheelchair Tennis Player, Gordon Reid, from Glasgow, Scotland, (Mens Singles) wins a gold medal competing for ParalympicsGB at the Rio Paralympic Games 2016. Copyright onEdition 2016 ©

Six medals for ParalympicsGB wheelchair tennis players, including gold for Gordon Reid after defeating teammate Alfie Hewett in an all-British men’s singles final and Andy Lapthorne and Jamie Burdekin won the longest wheelchair tennis match in history.

ParalympicsGB winning 12 medals including five gold on Day 8 and in doing so passing the Beijing total medal haul of 102. Gold and bronze for Hannah Cockcroft and Kare Adenegan a day later take the team past the London 2012 haul of 120.

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 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.

Chef de Mission of ParalympicsGB Penny Briscoe said:

“This team has been absolutely exceptional in so many ways. The focus, the determination, the ambition across the whole team has been amazing.

“As the medals started to roll in, the mood in the camp and the belief in the team became infectious and I believe all athletes went out there onto the field of play in the best possible physical and mental condition as a result of that self-confidence. The team has been outstanding across all 11 days of competition.

“I am exceptionally proud of what has been a brilliant team and a brilliant team effort.

“I would like to record my thanks to the National Lottery and the players of the National Lottery, the National Governing Bodies, the Home Nations, the IPC and the Organising Committee for their support in helping us to achieve such fantastic performances at such a fantastic Games.”

“We’re now looking forward to arriving back in the UK as we know that the British public has once again got firmly behind the team and supported us all the way.”

Copyright onEdition 2016© The ParalympicsGB Gold Medal Winners, with a combined haul of 64 gold medals at the Rio Paralympic Games 2016. 

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. 

Singers, dancers and fireworks lit up the iconic stadium before tributes were paid to Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad, who died on Saturday.

Britain finished the Games with 147 medals, 64 of which were gold. They were second behind China, who claimed 107 golds and 239 in total. Read the full story at BBC Sport. 

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.”