paralympic games: manchester-based stars

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The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games begin on Tuesday 24 August and many of the competitors at the Paralympics are based in Manchester. With over 15 of the athletes competing for Team GB, there could be plenty of medals destined for the city of Manchester by the end of August.

Here are some names to look out for as the Games go underway!

JODY CUNDY

The cyclist is heading to his seventh Paralympics and first competed for Team GB in the Atlanta 1996 Games. Cundy has won 10 medals at the Paralympics, including two golds in Rio de Janeiro. The 42-year-old began his career in swimming before transitioning into cycling at 26.

DAME SARAH STOREY

One of the seven cyclists at Tokyo who are based in Manchester and take advantage of the city’s excellent facilities, Dame Sarah heads to the Games with 25 medals already to her name. She is the most-decorated British female Paralympian ever and could overtake Mike Kenny’s British record of 16 golds. Dame Sarah was born and raised in Eccles and first competed at the Paralympics in 1992.

HANNAH RUSSELL

After collecting three medals in Rio, Hannah will be out for more glory in Japan. The visually impared 25-year-old began swimming at the age of four and is the daughter of former rugby player Carson Russell.

AMY TRUESDALE

The Taekwondo world No.1 will compete in the women’s +58kg category. This is Amy’s first Games and the 26-year-old has previously won World Championship titles in 2014 and 2017. Amy will partner Beth Munroe, another Manchester-based athlete, in Toyko.

GEMMA COLLIS-MCCANN

This is Gemma’s third Paralympics and she’ll be hopeful of gaining her first medals in Japan. Gemma competes at wheelchair fencing and in 2018 created history at the Montreal World Cup by becoming the first British women to win an event, and claimed the gold medal. She is also vice-chair of the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation’s Wheelchair Fencing Athletes’ Council.

Full list of Manchester-based athletes competing at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

CYCLING:
Jody Cundy
Neil Fachie
Matt Rotherham
Dame Sarah Storey
Jaco van Gass
Lora Fachie
Aileen McGlynn
Sophie Unwin
Kadeena Cox
Crystal Lane-Wright
James Ball
Steve Bate
Fin Graham
Ben Watson
George Peasgood

SWIMMING:
Hannah Russell
Tully Kearney
Grace Harvey

TAEKWONDO:
Beth Munro (train in Manchester)
Amy Truesdale
Matt Bush (train in Manchester)

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL:
Robyn Love
Laurie Williams
Billy Bridge (train in Manchester)
Greg Warburton (train in Mancheser)

WHEELCHAIR FENCING:
Gemma Collis-McCann

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