#PathwaytoParis | Record breaking Paralympics for Brum
University of Birmingham celebrated its highest ever medal haul in this year’s 2024 Paralympic Games.
Team GB’s Birmingham representatives contributed six of the 124 medals which saw the 215-strong squad finish second in the medal table.
Para Rower Josh O’Brien, Para Cyclist Laura Sugar and Para Triathlete Megan Richter all won gold in their respective fields, contributing to the 49 total gold medals won by GB.
Annie Caddick secured a silver also in the rowing, with Para Athlete Didi Okoh and Birmingham Hall of Famer Lora Fachie OBE bringing home bronze.
Alumni Alison Peasgood narrowly missed out on a bronze with a fourth-placed finish in her Para Triathlon event.
UOB School student Maddie Downs also represented GB in the Para Athletics.
With eight UoB athletes and four coaches, support staff and management in attendance, the Paris Paralympics have been extra special for us at home on campus watching our Birmingham representatives play their part for Team GB.
Set against the backdrop of the French capital’s most iconic venues, the eleven days of competition with over 4,000 athletes had us glued to our TV screens.
As the curtain falls on the closing ceremony, and the baton is officially passed on to LA2028, we take a look back and bask in the glory of our returning athletes.
Para Athletics
With 164 Para athletics events held at the Stade de France, para athletics brings together the largest number of athletes and events. The Team GB squad included recent graduate Didi Okoh, who attended her debut Games in the T63 100m category – now a Bronze medalist.
Also in the squad was UoB School student Maddie Downs, who trains on the UoB running track with the University’s Athletics coach Dean Miller. A London 2012 Paralympian and T37 1500m European medallist, Dean Miller joined up with Team GB as an Endurance Coach for Team GB and is an alumnus and staff member and has worked with both athletes heading to Paris.
Para Canoe
Paralympic veteran Laura Sugar MBE took on her third Games at Paris 2024 in the Kayak 200m, and capped off an incredible campaign with a gold medal.
Para Cycling
Lora Fachie OBE went into the 2024 Games hoping to keep hold of her Pursuit Champion title – however she had to settle for bronze in the end, but as one of the University’s Sport Hall of Famers, she continues to be an inspiration to all.
Para Rowing
Two more recent alumni and Paralympic first-timers, Annie Caddick and Josh O’Brien, were part of the Team GB Rowing squad who took to the water at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. With a gold medal for Josh and a silver for Annie, both youngsters can look forward to exciting careers for the future.
Para Triathlon
Alison Peasgood, experienced Paralympic champion, and current scholar Megan Richter, for whom Paris was her inaugural Games, were part of the largest ever Para Triathlon squad to go to a Games for Team GB. Clearly, the formidable team atmosphere helped push the athletes over the finish line – with Alison coming fourth vat her third consecutive Paralympics and Megan bringing home a gold medal, despite suffering major injury at the start of the year.
Penny Briscoe OBE continues her role as Para Team GB’s Chef de Mission, a position she has held since 2014 as well as being the Director of Sport for the team.
As Para GB’s most successful ever Chef de Mission, Penny has facilitated an environment in which both athletes and staff can thrive, and ensured that para-sport continues to develop nationally and internationally.
Maimee Titmuss-Morris, the University’s first Performance Lifestyle Lead, is now the Performance Lifestyle Coach for British Gymnastics and British Triathlon and is accompanying Team GB as the Staff Wellbeing Manager.
London 2012 Paralympian and T37 1500m European medallist Dean Miller will be the Endurance Coach for Team GB. Dean is an alumnus and staff member and has worked with both athletes heading to Paris.
Vicki Barker, who was Guild VP for Sport (2013-14) and Captain of the UoB Gymnastics Club during her time at the University, is off to the Paralympics working on Women’s Rugby management.
Photo creds: imagecomms, David Pearce, Sam Mellish, Paralympics GB.
