Sixteen South Australians are about to put themselves to the ultimate test as they line-up to represent their country at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

From the swimming pool to the track, the basketball court to the table tennis arena, South Aussies will be well represented as the eyes of the world once again focus on the French capital.

And in a nod to our training regime, each of our Paralympians is either a South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) scholarship holder or graduate and has been supported by SASI’s funding programs, high-performance services and daily training environments.

SA athletes will be aiming to bring home medals from Paris across seven different sports:

• In the para-athletics Michael Roeger is about to become a five-time Paralympian racing in the T46 1500m, while Angus Hincksman will be making his Paralympic debut in the T38 1500m after announcing himself as one to watch in the global para-athletics ranks. Following his Paris Olympic campaign, Matthew Clarke will act as a guide runner in the T13 5000m.
• Amanda Reid and Darren Hicks will headline the powerful para-cycling squad as reigning Paralympic champions while Meg Lemon (pictured below) will also be bringing her experience when she returns for her second Games. Caitlin Ward (pilot) will make her Paralympic debut.
• On the water world champions Jed Altschwager and Nikki Ayers will enter the Paralympic regatta as favourites in the PR3 mixed double para-rowing.
• In para-swimming Ella Jones is set to make her Paralympic debut while Jesse Aungles returns for his third Paralympic Games.
• Captaining the team at his third Games, Sam Von Einem (pictured below) will be going for gold after claiming silver in Rio and Tokyo in the para-table tennis. Hayley Sands will make her Games debut.
• On the para-triathlon course Anu Francis and Thomas Goodman have their sights set on the podium in their first Paralympic Games.
• And in the wheelchair basketball Sam White will be joining the Rollers for the second time.

Angus, who was born with cerebral palsy, last month told We Are.S (external site)A about his journey to his first games.

“The doctors told my parents that I could be expecting life in a wheelchair, but it ended up turning out a lot better than expected," the 18-year-old said.

“I’ve been imagining racing in the Paralympics since I was 10 or 11 years old and now to finally be here it’s overwhelming.

“It’s not just for me running my best but it’s for inspiring people with disabilities and showing them what we’re actually capable of.”

Also making the trip from Adelaide to Paris are SASI staff members who are providing their expertise to support the Australian team, with rowing coach Christine McLaren, cycling physiologist Jamie Stanley, cycling performance support Jill Leckey, lead dietician Olivia Warnes, mechanic David Haydon and Keren Faulkner from the Performance Insights Project Team all heading to France.

Ms Faulkner, who is also the director of SASI, said she was incredibly proud of the athletes.

“To reach this pinnacle sporting event is no easy feat and it requires sacrifice, commitment and true grit,” she said.

"I am thrilled that SASI has played a role in supporting all of South Australia’s Paris Paralympians and it’s a huge credit to our coaches, and science and health experts who have worked closely with these athletes to get them there.

"The future for SA Para-athletes looks bright as we prepare to move to the new SASI in Mile End featuring purpose-built accessible facilities and we expand SASI’s offering for Para-athletes in the years to come."

The Paralympics runs from 28 August to 8 September. Find out more about the Australian Paralympic Team on the Paralympics Australia website (external site) (external site) and view the Paris 2024 South Australian Paralympians on the SASI website. (external site) (external site)