Tag: inclusion

Faye Rogers swimming the butterfly

Faye Rogers is Ready to Take on Paris

“Going to the Paralympic Games is just insane and I am so excited.” – Faye Rogers is ready for her Paralympic Games debut at Paris 2024. 

By William Moncrieff 

The 21-year-old Para swimmer – who studies at the University of Aberdeen – will be competing in the women’s 100m Butterfly S10, 100m freestyle S10, 400m freestyle S10 and the 200m individual medley SM10 in Paris. 

Faye first found out that she was going to become a Paralympian after the Para swimming trials in April. She was nervous immediately after as she felt unwell and wasn’t completely happy with her performance. However, she got selected and was over the moon to get the news. 

“It was so exciting to get that confirmation through,” said Faye. 

“I just want to go and be my best, make all of that hard work pay off.” 

Faye took up Para swimming after a serious car crash left her with life changing injuries. When looking back over the journey she has been on, Faye is incredibly proud with how she reacted.  

“I am quite proud of myself for sticking with it and getting to this point”, said Faye, who has been swimming since aged nine. 

She continued to say: “As much as my journey in swimming hasn’t looked as I expected it to look as a child, I am still just really proud of myself where I’ve got to.”  

“I didn’t dare to dream about the Paralympics until a year and a half ago,” said Faye. 

“Following my accident and impairment I didn’t know whether I would be good enough.” Faye made the Paralympics a goal of hers after trials for the World Championships in 2023. It was here that she realised her potential in the sport and consequently, she gave herself a pep talk: “I’ve got a year to work and get myself selected.”  

Adding: “That was the point that it became a goal rather than a dream.”  

Just a day out from the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Faye has had time to reflect on her journey as an athlete.  

“I think having that goal and having that to aim for and work for has been pretty much the only thing that has got me through the last three years. Having a serious accident and being told that you aren’t going to be able to do something that you have done all your life, something you love, is really hard.” 

She continued to say, “I think having in the back of my mind there is the Paralympics and I can achieve everything that I wanted to achieve was sort of life changing.”  

All of the best of luck in Paris, Faye! 

Make sure to follow the action live on Channel 4 and keep up-to-date by following SDS on Facebook, X and Instagram. More information and the competition schedule is available on the SDS website.  

Montage photo of Sammi Kinghorn holding a bronze medal and Ben Sandilands in his Fife athletic club kit

Kinghorn and Sandilands Amongst First 10 Para Athletics Names Announced for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Two Scots are among the 10 athletes selected for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games announced by ParalympicsGB today, in the first wave of selection.

Following a successful World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe last month, as well as several fine displays by Para athletes in the early stages of the season, ten athletes have been confirmed for the Games.

Scotland’s Samantha Kinghorn (from Red Star AC and coached by Rodger Harkins) and Ben Sandilands (Fife AC athlete who is coached by Steve Doig) – who both have world titles to their name – join the first cohort of selected athletes.

Following the announcement, Sammi said, “I’m so excited to be competing at my third Paralympic Games in Paris. Lots of my friends and family will be coming over to watch me and I can’t wait to get going now really feeling the fire!”

It’ll be a third consecutive Paralympics for Sammi (Samantha) whilst Ben will be a first time Paralympian in Paris, competing in the 1500m T20. Sammi will be aiming to build on the success of Tokyo 2020, where she reached the podium on two occasions: silver in the 400m T53 and bronze in the 100m T53. She will compete in three events in Paris – the 100m, 400m and 800m T53.

The second and final wave of para athletics selection take place on 22 July 2024 with the full team announced soon afterwards.

Penny Briscoe, Chef de Mission at ParalympicsGB, said: “I’m delighted to welcome such a strong group of experienced and talented Para athletes to the ParalympicsGB team for Paris 2024. All ten individuals have already shown what they are capable of at the highest level, so I am really excited to see what they can achieve at the Paralympic Games in Paris later this summer.”

Tommy Yule, Para Athletics Team Leader at the Paralympic Games, said: “Congratulations to all 10 athletes for earning their call-up to Paris 2024. They have all worked incredibly hard with their support networks to get to this point, so they should be proud of their achievement.

“With just over two months to go until the Games begin, we will be supporting and engaging with all these athletes’ in their preparations, to add the most value to ensure they are best prepared for the Games.”

A total of around 230 athletes from 19 sports are expected to make up the British team that will compete in Paris, with further names to be announced by ParalympicsGB in the next few weeks.

At Tokyo 2020 ParalympicsGB won medals across a record breaking 18 different sports – the highest number of any nation ever. Paralympics GB finished second on the medal table with 124 medals overall, including 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze.

 

Scots selected – 

Women

Sammi Kinghorn (Rodger Harkins, Red Star) – T53 100m, 400m and 800m

Men

Ben Sandilands (Steve Doig, Fife) – T20 1500m

Photo of a young man and woman, sitting in a sailing boat

Fife Disability Sailing Opportunity

Royal Yachting Association Scotland (Scottish Governing Body for forms of boating such as sailing, windsurfing and powerboating) are putting out a last push for our Try Sailing day for people with disabilities or those who may require some additional support at Loch Ore Meadows in Fife on the 9th June.

Royal Yachting Association Scotland (RYA Scotland) are hosting this day in conjunction with Fife Sailability. (Please feel free to have a look at their page on Facebook to see the venue and what is available.)

There are still spaces available for anyone who is interested in getting on the water, with the support of RYA Scotland’s volunteer team who will be on hand both ashore and afloat to accompany people out on the boats.

Boats and a hoist which enables access to wheelchair-users to go sailing, will be available and people are welcome to book for a morning, afternoon or both if they wish.

Bookings are free can be made via the link here.

Photo of a sailing boat out on the water, with a person in the boat, sailing. There is an empty wheelchair placed at the end of the jetty, presumably belonging to the person in the boat.