Age: 19

Home town: Glasgow

Classification: S14, SB14, SM14

Louis Lawlor made his international debut at the World Para Swimming Championships in London in 2019 – and capped it by winning his maiden international medal.

Glasgow-born Lawlor secured a bronze in the S14 100m Backstroke, having finished fourth in the mixed category race at the British Para-Swimming International Meet earlier in the year to confirm his place in the Worlds squad.

He achieved two mixed category podiums at the 2018 British Para-Swimming International Meet in Sheffield, claiming silver in the 100m Butterfly and bronze in the 200m Freestyle event.

Lawlor was also named Best Swimmer at the 2018 Scottish Junior Learning Disability Swimming Championships.

Courtesy of ParalympicsGB

Instagram: louislawlor2002

Age: 24

Home town: Glasgow

Classification: S5, SB4, SM5

Having made his international debut at the age of 14 at the 2011 IPC Swimming European Championships in Berlin, Andrew Mullen performed well on his Paralympic debut at London 2012, narrowly missing out on a medal as he finished 4th in both the 50m backstroke S5 and the 50m butterfly S5.

On the road to Rio 2016, he scooped numerous international medals, including six medals at the 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships in Eindhoven (four gold and two silver) in addition to seven individual medals across both the 2013 IPC World Championships in Montreal and the 2015 IPC World Championships in his hometown of Glasgow.

In 2016, Andrew made his mark at the IPC Swimming European Championships by winning four individual gold medals, plus one silver.

At his second Paralympic Games at Rio 2016, Mullen won an incredible three medals, including a silver in the Men’s 50m backstroke S5.

Age: 57

Home town: Dundonald, South Ayrshire

Sport: Boccia

Events: Individual BC3 & Pairs BC3

Classification: BC3 Assistant

Coach: Glynn Tromans

When and how did you get involved in sport?
2006 when my sons were introduced to the sport.

Career highlights:

• London, Rio and now Tokyo.

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
3

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
To medal in both.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Make sacrifices and give it your all.

 

Age: 30

Home town: Dundonald, South Ayrshire

Sport: Boccia

Events: Individual BC3 & Pairs BC3

Classification: BC3

Coach: Glynn Tromans

When and how did you get involved in sport?
I attended a local sports event for schoolchildren called Ayrshire Sportsability where I was first introduced to Boccia and met Claire Morrison (current Boccia UK Performance Coach) who at the time was a support coach for Scottish Boccia and she invited me to a Scotland squad session and after attending my first competition I was hooked

Career highlights:

• Captaining the BC3 pair to World Championship Silver in 2014 and European Championship Bronze in 2013.
• 4 time British Champion Competing at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
London 2012, Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
I always aim to win every event and Tokyo is no different so the double gold is the dream and I believe I am capable but it’s just about hitting my top level at the right time. After two Games of coming home empty handed, the only successful Games can be to come home with silverware!

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Be prepared for a lot of hard work as there is no cutting corners but the results are worth it!

Twitter: smccowan

Facebook: Scott McCowan

Instagram: smccowan17

Age: 29

Home town: Helensburgh, Argyll & Bute

Sport: Wheelchair Tennis

Events: Men’s Singles & Doubles

Classification: Open

Coach: Bruno Argudo

When and how did you get involved in sport?

I first tried wheelchair tennis at the West of Scotland Wheelchair Club session in Scotstoun in 2005.

Career highlights:

• Rio 2016 Paralympic Singles Gold & Doubles Silver
• 2 x Singles Grand Slam Champion
• 16 x Doubles Grand Slam Champion

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
Three

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?

The dream is to win two golds.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?

Embrace everything that your sport brings, the good and the bad!

Twitter: @gordonreid91

Instagram: @gordonreid

Age: 35

Home town: Kirkcaldy, Fife

Sport: Athletics

Events: Marathon

Classification: T46

Name of club: Fife AC/DSF

Coach: Ron Morrison

When and how did you get involved in sport?
I got myself into sport at an early age taking up football at 8/9 years old. I enjoyed playing the game and my friends were playing too.

Career highlights:

My career highlights are:

• Being selected to represent Team GB for my first Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016 was an amazing privilege and afforded me lots of experience. I feel honoured to have been selected for my second Games in Tokyo.
• Finishing in 3rd at VLM 2017 in 2:33.24, which was a new PB. This race helped rebuild my confidence & self belief after not being able to finish the marathon in Rio.
• Finishing 2nd in the World Para Athletics Championship marathon at VLM in 2019 with another new PB of 2:27.08. I was the first athlete to get Team GB on the medal table before the championships concluded in Dubai later in the year.

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
To be competitive and enjoy the experience.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Believe in yourself.

Twitter: derekrae_85

Facebook: Derek Rae

Instagram: Dell_2310

Age: 25

Home town: Bo’ness

Sport: Athletics

Events: 100m & 800m

Classification: T34

Name of club: Coventry Godiva

When and how did you get involved in sport?
I found wheelchair racing in 2011 at a British Athletics talent identification day. I was previously a swimmer but had to stop due to a chlorine allergy, so when I saw the race chairs I was hooked. They looked completely different to anything I had ever seen before and the thought of going quick round an athletics track was a massive draw.

Career highlights:

A career highlight was competing in the Rio Paralympics. Rio was my first Paralympic Games and although the races didn’t go to plan it was the moment I became a Paralympian which will always be a special moment. Another career highlight would be the quick individual races I have done. One that comes to mind is my European Record 800m race from 2017. I knocked 6 seconds off my personal best time in one race, crossing the line in 1.39. This was the first time I felt like I was at the level to compete for medals at major championships.

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
Tokyo will be my 2nd Paralympic Games

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
My ambition for Tokyo is to win medals.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
My advice would be try as many sports as you can until you find one that suits you and once you’ve found a sport that clicks throw yourself into every opportunity. Sport has changed my life and taken me to places I never thought I would get to go to so enjoy the journey.

Twitter: @BenRowlings

Facebook: Ben Rowlings T34 Wheelchair Racer

Instagram: benrowlings

Age: 24

Home town: Turriff, Aberdeenshire

Sport: Swimming

Events: 100m Breaststroke

Classification: S14 SM14 SB14

Name of club: University of Aberdeen

Coach: Gregor McMillan

When and how did you get involved in sport?
Swimming at school, then gradually moved up through the ranks.

Career highlights:

• Winning silver medal in Dublin 2018 then retaining the silver medal in Madeira 2021.

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
This will be my first one.

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
Going there for the experience and swimming well, hopefully get a new PB.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Train, work hard and most of all enjoy.

Twitter: Morrisxn97

Facebook: Conner Morrison

Instagram: Morrisxn_

Age: 17

Home town: Aberdeen, Grampian

Sport: Swimming

Events: 400m Free, 100m Free & 100m Fly

Classification: S9

Name of club: University of Aberdeen

Coach: Gregor McMillan

When and how did you get involved in sport?
I went to Learn to Swim lessons & was asked to try out for a club. I joined Cults Otters & from there went on to Coast then U of A.

Career highlights:

• Being part of the winning 34 point relay team at World Champs in London 2019
• Representing /team Scotland at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
This is my first.

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
To hopefully swim fast and do the best I can.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Have fun and enjoy every training session and competition!

Twitter: Tonishaw_x

Facebook: Toni Shaw

Instagram: Tonishaw_

Age: 55

Home town: Dundonald, South Ayrshire

Sport: Boccia

Events: BC3 Individual & Pairs

Classification: BC3 Ramp Assistant

Name of club: Boccia UK

Coach: Glynn Tromans

When and how did you get involved in sport?
My sons attended a (Come and Try) event with Ayrshire Sportsability and met Claire Morrison who was coaching with Scottish Boccia who invited us to a Scotland Training session in 2006.Became Jamie’s ramp assistant in 2014.

Career highlights:

• Assisting Jamie to win the European Championship in 2017,British champion in 2018, and being selected to Rio Paralympic Games.

How many Paralympic Games have you competed in?
Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020

What are your ambitions in Tokyo?
To win a medal individually or a pairs medal with my family and team mates Beth Moulam and Christie Hutchings.

Do you have one bit of advice for an aspiring athlete?
Hard work pays off.

Facebook: Linda McCowan