Tag: para swimming

22/10/2024

Commonwealth Games Federation Confirms Glasgow as 2026 Commonwealth Games Hosts

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is pleased to officially confirm Glasgow as the host city of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with six Para sports included on the sport programme.

The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games will take place in Scotland from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 2 August 2026, returning to the city 12 years after the hugely successful 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Glasgow 2026 will feature a 10-sport programme concentrated across four venues within an eight-mile corridor, ensuring an action-packed broadcast schedule across
each day of competition and making the event accessible and appealing to spectators looking to enjoy the multi-sport environment and festival feel.

With over 500,000 tickets to be made available at a future date, there will be around
3,000 of the best athletes competing from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories that represent 2.5 billion people – one-third of the world’s population. Para sport will once again be fully integrated as a key priority and point of difference for the Games, with six Para sports included on the sport programme.

The sports programme will include Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para
Bowls, and 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball.

Credit: Glasgow 2026

The Games will take place across four venues: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena – including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). Athletes and support staff will be
housed in hotel accommodation.

The Glasgow 2026 Games will deliver over £100 million of inward investment into the city and is projected to support over £150 million of economic value added for the region, with a model that has been specially designed to not require public funding for the delivery of the Games. An additional multi-million-pound investment has also been secured for upgrading public sporting facilities, alongside funding for city activation projects across the city.

With the confirmation that Glasgow will host one of the world’s biggest multi-sport events and the biggest sporting event in the United Kingdom in 2026, the branding for the Glasgow Games has also been released. For the first time in the Games’ history, the logo combines the Commonwealth Sport logo with the overall visual identity of the 2026 Games – emphasising the central role of the Commonwealth Games within the wider Commonwealth Sport Movement.

The Glasgow 2026 logo features Glasgow graphic elements inspired by some of the engineering, architectural and natural elements found at the heart of the city. The three elements include representations of the River Clyde, the Finnieston Crane, and the Clyde Arc, which are all centrally aligned in the Commonwealth Sport celebration mark in the colours of the waterfront – symbolising the meeting point for sport and culture at the heart of the Games.

Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Katie Sadleir NZOM said, ‘’On behalf of the entire Commonwealth Sport Movement, we are delighted to officially confirm that the 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place in the host city of Glasgow. The Games promise to be a truly immersive festival of sport and celebration of culture and diversity that inspires athletes and sports – with a fan experience more accessible than ever before.

‘’With the Commonwealth Games held in such high esteem by athletes, sports and nations across the Commonwealth, we have been working tirelessly with our fellow stakeholders to ensure a high-quality Games will take place in 2026 – securing this vital milestone in the career pathway for thousands of athletes.

‘’The 2026 Games will be a bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow – an exciting first step in our journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future that minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact – in doing so increasing the scope of countries capable of hosting.

‘’With the reassuring legacy of Glasgow 2014 providing existing sporting, transport and accommodation infrastructure, and world-class venues and expertise, we look forward to working with the Glasgow team to deliver a very special Commonwealth Games in 2026.

‘’Our Movement’s commitment to sport for development and social change remains central to Glasgow 2026 and beyond – with full integration of Para sport a priority the
Games will continue to be an inspiring and impactful platform.’’

Commonwealth Games Scotland Chief Executive Jon Doig OBE, said “We’re absolutely delighted to have secured Glasgow as hosts of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. When we started pulling this concept together just under a year ago, our focus was on creating a Games that was different – that could be delivered to the highest quality, in the short time frame, in a financially sustainable way.

“Glasgow 2026 will have all the drama, passion and joy that we know the Commonwealth Games delivers even if it is to be lighter and leaner than some previous editions. It will be more accessible, delivered on a smaller footprint which brings our fans closer to the sporting action.

“The Commonwealth Games has a special place in the hearts of athletes around the globe, and we’re really looking forward to welcoming them, their support staff and fans from all four corners of the Commonwealth to experience the famous Scottish and Glasgow hospitality. It is an exciting moment for the city and the country.”

First Minister John Swinney said, “The Commonwealth Games is a hugely important event for Scottish sport and an exciting opportunity for the people of Scotland.

“As well as an action-packed, inclusive sports programme that will inspire and excite audiences across the globe – Glasgow 2026 will also be a cultural celebration.

“I would like to thank Commonwealth Games Scotland for their hard work and dedication to produce a viable proposal for Glasgow 2026 – and to the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia for their assistance in helping to secure the Games. I believe this epitomises the Commonwealth spirit and willingness to work together.

“While Glasgow 2026 will look quite different to previous Games, we can, and we must, use this as an opportunity to work collaboratively to ensure that this new concept brings a strong and sustainable future for the Games. The Scottish Government is committed to playing its part in building that new vision.”

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said, “It’s fantastic news that the Commonwealth Games Federation has formally confirmed Glasgow as the host city of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. This is good news for the Commonwealth Games and yet another opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland to demonstrate their ability to put on world class sporting events.

“There will be a great competitive programme across 10 sports, and I for one can’t wait to see our talented Scottish athletes in action in front of a home crowd.

“The UK Government has actively supported the proposal to bring the 2026 Games to Glasgow, and is providing up to £2.3 million contingency towards security costs. This is a great example of the UK and Scottish governments working together to deliver for Scotland.”

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said, “We’re thrilled to welcome the Commonwealth Games back to Glasgow for 2026, where Scotland’s renowned hospitality and unwavering passion for sport will once again light up the city on the world stage.

“The UK Government has long supported the Games, and we’re proud to have played our part in making Glasgow 2026 a reality, backing the Scottish Government, Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Commonwealth Games Federation to deliver a world-class event.

“Together, we are dedicated to creating an unforgettable Games that will inspire athletes, fans and communities across the country for generations.”

Glasgow City Council Leader Susan Aitken said, “The 2026 Games are an opportunity to set out a new blueprint for the future of sustainable, accessible Commonwealth sport – and it should come as no surprise that the organisers believe Glasgow is the place they can make that happen.

“Our city has a track record that is second to none when it comes to staging major events – and, in particular, working with organisers to make sure new competitions and formats get off to the best possible start.

“Glasgow benefitted greatly from hosting the Games in 2014 and officials have shared expertise and experience with both Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Commonwealth Games Federation as they have developed their plans for 2026.

“These Games will be, by design, different from those the Glasgow hosted a decade ago – but the city will play its part in helping make them a success on their own
terms.”

Make to follow Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, X and Instagram, as well as on the SDS website.

24/09/2024

Golden Debut: A Recap of Faye Rogers First Paralympic Games

The Para swimmer left Paris with a gold medal in her first ever Paralympic games, three years after her accident.

By Bethany Lee

21-year-old Faye Rogers can now call herself a Paralympic champion after winning gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games (28 August – 8 September).

The University of Aberdeen student had her crowing moment in the women’s 100m Butterfly S10. The race was incredibly tight, with Faye swimming beside ParalympicsGB teammate Callie-Ann Warrington.

The pair were neck-and-neck until Faye pushed into the lead, grabbing the gold with a time of 1:05.84, a slender 0.57 seconds ahead of her teammate.

Photo of Faye Rogers and her teammate Callie-Ann Warrington, swimming side by side in the final of the 100m butterfly S10. — Photo credit: ParalympicsGB

The thrilling conclusion to the intense race left Faye in shock. Looking back on her golden moment, she said: “You know when you see people celebrating in the pool, I didn’t. I knew I’d won, but it didn’t sink in, and then I got out of the pool and I was like woah I’ve just won, it kind of hit me late.”

When asked how it felt to win, she added: “To be honest there was a lot of relief in there, I was quite nervous going into it. I think the best feeling was being on the podium. I could see my family and I was trying really hard not to just look at my mum and cry. I honestly can’t put into words how amazing that feeling is.”

Photo of Faye leaning on the swimming lane ropes and smiling after her race — Photo credit: ParalympicsGB

As well as winning gold, Faye made it to two other Paralympic finals, finishing 5^th in both the women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10 with a time of 2:33.90 and the women’s 400m Freestyle S10 with a time of 4:41.50.

She also competed in the women’s 100m Freestyle S10, finishing second in the swim-offs by just 0.06 seconds.

Looking back as the Games came to a close, Faye said: “This week has just been crazy, it’s still not sunk in yet. It’s just been the most surreal week.”

Photo of Faye Rogers smiling and holding her gold medal on the podium — Photo credit: ParalympicsGB

The University of Aberdeen student had already drawn attention after her international debut at the 2023 World Championships, taking home three medals including a gold in the 100m Butterfly S10. She was also named Para Swimming Emerging Athlete of the Year in 2023 by British Swimming.

The star swimmer has been competing since the age of nine and took part in the Olympic trails in 2021 in London. Shortly after, she was involved in a car accident and told she’d never race competitively again.

Now, she is a world champion, a European record holder and, almost exactly three years after her accident, a Paralympic gold medallist.

Going forward, Faye hopes to compete for Scotland in the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will be on home soil (or water!). Faye was born in Durham but trains and is based in Aberdeen where she is studying biochemistry with the hopes of becoming a doctor.

In case you missed any of the Paris 2024 Paralympic action, you can find all the daily reviews and highlights on the SDS website, here.

To keep up to date on all things disability sport across Scotland, make sure to follow SDS on Facebook, X and Instagram and the SDS website.

11/09/2024

Double Gold Glory for the Scots on Day 10 in Paris

On the penultimate day of the Games, the Scottish athletes bagged another three medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

By Lauren Cameron

On Saturday (7th), Fin Graham and Stephen Clegg found the top of the podium whilst Hope Gordon secured a silver to help bring Scotland’s medal tally to 20.

Scottish rider, Fin Graham, secured his first Paralympic gold of the Games on Saturday morning’s men’s C1-3 Road Race in Paris.

The 24-year-old outsprinted home favourites Thomas Peyroton-Dartet and Alexandre Leaute (FRA), with an impressive time of 1:43:19. 

The Highland athlete described the win: “It is the pinnacle of our sport… Paralympic gold, nothing compares to it. That’s what we work towards every four years, to be able to come away with that is amazing.”

Despite securing gold, Fin admits the race was not without its challenges.

“The French made it hard because it was two against one the whole race.” He added: “I didn’t really know what their plan was because they were talking in French the whole race.”

Describing the race, he added: “Alex [Leaute] led up the final climb and I thought that was his attempt to lead Thomas [Peyroton-Dartet] out. In the last couple of races I’ve managed to beat him in a sprint so I felt fairly confident.”

Fin’s confidence paid off, earning him his first Paralympic gold ahead of the Peyroton-Léauté duo. He adds the gold to his one silver that won on the track (men’s C3 3000m Individual Pursuit).

In the swimming finals, Stephen Clegg won his second Para swimming gold of Paris 2024 in the men’s100m Butterfly S12.

Stephen, 28, the world record holder in the event, crossed the finish line with a time of 57:49.

The win is Stephen’s second gold after a triumphant performance in the 100 Backstroke S12 earlier in the Games, cementing his status as a double Paralympic champion in Paris.

According to the Lothian athlete, Saturday’s win is just the beginning: “I’m always striving for more and better. Every result I have, I am evaluating how it’s gone as a performance rather than just the result”.

Reflecting on his journey to the Paralympics, he adds: “This is a reward for the roll of the dice I took 10 years ago. A lot of people thought I was crazy when I came back and take a shot at being a Paralympic champion.”

Stephen dedicates his win to his family and friends: “None of this happens without them. I owe them everything.”

Faye Rogers was also in action in the pool, finishing fourth in the 200m Individual Medley SM10 final. Despite not reaching the podium in her final event in Paris, she did take the title on day six – winning gold in the women’s 100m butterfly S10 on her Paralympic Games debut.

In 2021, Rogers was involved in a car accident and three years on, she is a Paralympic champion.

On her time in Paris, she said: “It’s been the best experience of my life, amazing from start to finish. But I’m glad to be done.”

“The biggest learning I’m taking away from this experience is how emotionally draining it is in the best way. That 100 fly gold medal was crazy and a high but then there are also some lows. I don’t think I appreciated that going in.”

ParalympicsGB’s success on Saturday continued with Hope Gordon, who took silver in the women’s Canoe Va’a single 200m VL3.

Hope, from Golspie, shared her thoughts from Saturday’s race: “I didn’t have the perfect race but there is no one I would rather stand next to on the podium than Charlotte [Henshaw].” 

She added: “I train with Dave everyday and he is like a brother to me. This is his fifth Games and for him to finally get that medal, it was so special to watch.” 

“We were happy with whichever way round it went and we just wanted to get as many medals on the medal table for ParalympicsGB”, said Hope.

Robyn Love and Jodie Waite were in action on the basketball court for the final time, as ParalympicsGB’s women’s wheelchair basketball team took on Germany in the 5-6 Playoff Game. The team finished with a strong win, 48-39, to end their Paralympic campaign in Paris with a fifth place finish.

The Paris 2024 Paralympics runs from the 28th August – 8th September. You can follow all the action and find out how the 21 Scottish Para athletes get on by following Scottish Disability Sport on Facebook, X and Instagram, as well as on the SDS website. You can catch all the action on Channel 4. More information here.   

09/09/2024

Friday Night Delight as Ben Sandilands Smashes World Record in Paris on Debut Paralympic Games

Three golds, one silver and a new World and Paralympic record were set on day nine of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Ben Sandilands won a sensational gold on his Paralympic debut in World and Paralympic record style.

The athlete from Fife, coached by Steve Doig, left his opponents in the dust as he turned down the homestretch and sprinted to a new world’s best time in the men’s 1500m T20.

On the win, Ben said: “It’s an amazing feeling. I’ve put in so much hard work and I want to thank my family and friends, and my coach Steve Doig. I knew I had the speed in me at the end from my training. The timing has to be perfect and I went for it, and the world record means a lot. It’s incredible.”

Ben clocked a time of 3:45.20 to seal him the Paralympic title on his Games debut.

Podium photo with Ben Sandilands (gold) standing next to silver and bronze medallists — Photo Credit: ParalympicsGB/David Pearce

Sammi Kinghorn also produced a podium performance alongside teammates Zach Shaw, Jonnie Peacock and Ali Smith in the 4x100m Universal Relay.

The squad of four raced to a new European Record of 46.01, bettering their own record set in the earlier heat.

Sammi said: “It’s so exciting. I’m glad I’ve done my individuals now and I can enjoy being part of a team. It’s really special being in the call room with everyone else. We had fun out there, went pretty fast and got a European record so pretty good.”

Victory didn’t just belong to Ben, as Gordon Reid (with Alfie Hewett) finally got his hands on gold in the men’s wheelchair tennis doubles final.

The duo won gold in fantastic fashion, comfortably defeating Japan’s Takuya Miki and Tokito Oda, 2-0 (6-2, 6-1).

“We finally did it, it’s ours. It feels amazing, even if it’s not fully sunk in yet, the emotions and adrenaline are still high,” said the 32-year-old from Hellensburgh.

“We’ve been desperate this for a long time, we’ve come close twice and felt that heartbreak and pain. Those matches have been some of the toughest moments of my career so sitting here with the gold around our necks is one of the best feelings. Sometimes you need to feel some pain to enjoy the highs when they come, we need to really savour this moment.”

It was another medal in Paris for Jenny Holl, who piloted Sophie Unwin to an incredible gold in Para cycling (road).

Jenny and Sophie tactically sat behind Irish silver medallists, Katie-George Dunlevy and pilot Linda Kelly, right up until the final 500m.

Jenny said, “It was just a case of all race make sure we’re still with them and if we were with them with 500m to go, we knew we would be pretty solid.”

The pair took the win by three seconds, clocking a time of 2:37:26 to claim the title in the women’s B road race.

Commenting on their performance in Paris, Jenny said:
“I think the main thing for us is we both know all the time that each of us is working as hard as we possibly can so we have that trust and its really nice to see it show in a set of medals at a Games.”

In Para canoe, Hope Gordon won her heat to set a new Paralympic Games Best time of 58.25 in the women’s Va’a Single 200m – VL3. The win allows her to advance directly to the Final A race on Saturday (7th).

Hope was unsuccessful in obtaining an automatic qualification place in the women’s Kayak Single 200m – KL3, final A race. Finishing second in her (with a time of 48.96) means that Hope will advance to the semifinal for another chance of qualifying.

In Para swimming, Louis Lawlor was in action in the men’s 100m Backstroke S14. Louis swam a storming race in the morning’s heats, setting a new Scottish record with a time of 1:00.41 and a place in the Paralympic final.

The final was packed and highly competitive, with the Scot finishing seventh.

09/09/2024

Sammi Kinghorn Strikes Silver Again, on Day 8 of the Paris 2024 Paralympics

Sammi Kinghorn wins her third silver medal in Paris whilst there’s victory in wheelchair basketball for Robyn Love and Jodie Waite

By Bethany Lee

Sammi Kinghorn has won a silver medal in the women’s 400m T53 final, bringing her medal tally to an impressive four medals (one gold, three silvers) in Paris.

The Scot sped down the track to secure second place with a time of 53.45.

Following her silver performance, she said: “I’m absolutely buzzing, four from four, you can’t be disappointed with that. It was a good race and I’m happy with the time as Catherine’s (Debrunner) PB is about two and a half seconds faster than mine so she was always going to be quick. I wanted to make sure that the silver was well and truly mine and I’ve done that.”

It’s fair to say that the Scot was riding a high from her golden performance in Wednesday’s 100m T53 race. She said: “I was still lying awake at 3am last night just buzzing with myself so this is great. I slept in until half 10 though. Last night was incredible for me, knowing that I had one last chance to come out and enjoy it.”

It was the final event of a very successful Paralympics for Sammi with the Melrose star adding her Paris medals to her Tokyo 2020 Games 400m silver, solidifying her legacy as an elite Para athlete.

Reflecting on the Games, the 28-yer-old, said: “I’ve done a lot better than I thought I would coming in. I did hope that I could come away with medals from each of my four events. The 1500m was a surprise, I probably could get fourth or squeeze a bronze in that so it’s been a complete shock. And to win that gold last night was a real shock. This has been my best Games by far.”

In other Para athletics news, Glasgow’s Melanie Woods competed in the women’s 400m T54 track, qualifying in third place in the heats.

The fast-paced final saw the Scot finish sixth after a tight race with just 2.50 seconds between first and last place.

Following the final, Melanie said: “I’m a little bit disappointed with the time but realistically in a field like that, it’s probably a good finish. When I look back, I’ll see it as a respectable finish.”

“I think I’m in PB shape and I was ready to take chunks off my time, it just didn’t come out of me today. It’s a mix of weather and a week of racing in my arms. But all things considered, I’m pretty proud.”

Reflecting on her experience in Paris, the 30-year-old, said: “I started the week with some huge personal bests. I then changed my expectations, I raised the bar for myself, but these girls are getting faster every year so I need to do the same. It’s a mixture of feeling proud you’re getting better but knowing I need to chase these girls down and close the gap. I definitely think I have a lot more to give.”

Meanwhile on the basketball court, ParalympicsGB’s women’s wheelchair basketball team also met victory. Scottish players Robyn Love and Jodie Waite, alongside their teammates, skilfully dominated the game against Japan, with a 67-55 win.

The win gives the team the chance to compete for fifth place on Saturday in Paris.

Scottish athletes were also seen in action in today’s Para swimming events.

First up was the newly crowned fly Paralympic champion, Faye Rogers. Faye continued to show her athleticism by securing a third place in the women’s 400m freestyle S10 heats, gaining her a spot in her second Paralympic final.

Despite giving it her all, the podium was just out of reach for Faye. She clocked a time of 4:41.50, to place fifth.

She said: “It’s really nice to see the class is getting more competitive, it’s looking really good. I couldn’t be prouder to swim in a race that competitive, it’s insane, and it’s making me faster. I’m a little bit disappointed with the time, I’ve been training a lot better than that, but you can’t change it and I gave it my all.”

The University of Aberdeen student has already emerged victorious from her first ever Paralympic games, gaining a gold medal in the women’s 100m S10 butterfly on Tuesday.

Faye’s will next compete in the women’s 200m individual medley SM10.

Looking towards her final event in Paris, she said: “I’m quite excited for it, I’ve been doing a lot of work on my weaker two strokes. It’s an interesting one for me as I do really struggle with breaststroke, I have never been good at it, so my race often doesn’t look like everyone else’s. but I really enjoy racing it and I’m going in third seed, so I’d love to come out with a medal but all I can do is my best.”

The second Scottish Para swimmer of the day, Toni Shaw, competed in the women’s 200m individual medley SM9.

A highly competitive heat saw Toni neck-and-neck with three other swimmers battling for the second-place spot. They couldn’t keep up with the Scottish star though as she pushed herself into second, sending her through to her third final in Paris.

Despite fighting hard in a tight race, Toni lost out on a medal by just 0.24 seconds and had to settle for fourth. A tough final defeat for the 21-year-old, who finished fifth and eighth in her other Paris events.

04/09/2024

Sammi Kinghorn Adds Gold to Her Collection Whilst Jenny Holl Completes Her Medal Set, at Paris 2024

Sammi Kinghorn turns golden in Paralympic record style, on the seventh day of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

The 28-year-old can finally call herself a Paralympic champion at these Games, after an outstanding race in the women’s 100m T53. The Scot flew down the Para athletics track to clock a new Paralympic record time of 15.64 seconds. She adds this gold to the two silvers she’s already picked-up at the Stade-de-France.

Para cycling waved goodbye to the velodrome and took to the roads on day seven. It was here that Jenny Holl piloted Sophie Unwin to a superb silver medal in the women’s B Individual Time Trial.

The Irish team made up of Katie George-Dunlevy and pilot Linda Kelly got the better over the Brits, going quicker than Jenny and Sophie by 1:23.60 seconds.

The silver completes the Paralympic medal set for the duo, after having taken gold and bronze earlier in Paris.

The Scots were again in action in Para swimming, with both Stephen Clegg and Toni Shaw making their evening finals.

The medals were just out of reach for Stephen who missed the podium by just over half a second, in the men’s 100m freestyle S12. He had to settle for fourth place behind the two Ukrainians and the Azerbaijan athletes. The same result was repeated in the final of the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay – 49 points, where Stephen represented the Scots in ParalympicsGB’s relay team.

Toni Shaw couldn’t match the world record pace of Australia’s Alexa Leary, in the women’s 100m freestyle S9. The swimmer from Aberdeen gave a great effort in a packed final, to finish eighth in a time of 1:05.60.

There was defeat and disappointment in the women’s wheelchair basketball, the boccia mixed team BC1/BC2 and the men’s wheelchair tennis singles, as all lost their quarterfinal matches.

Robyn Love and Jodie Waite’s dream of a Paralympic medal were squashed after a thrilling quarterfinal against the USA. The USA took advantage of Great Britain’s missed opportunities in the final quarter to steal the win, 59-52.

It was heartbreak in the boccia when Kayleigh Haggo, David Smith and Claire Taggart lost the tiebreak to Indonesia, which ended their Paralympic journey in Paris.

Gordon Reid also failed to advance further in the men’s singles tournament, after a fiercely contested quarterfinal against Gustavo Fernandez. The Argentinian rallied to a 6-0, 7-6 win over the Scot.

Gordon did find success in the men’s wheelchair tennis doubles though, where he and tennis partner Alfie Hewett beat the home favourites to advance to Friday’s gold medal game.

The duo beat France’s Frederic Cattaneo and Stephane Houdet 6-4, 6-3, which means they will battle it out for gold against Japan’s Takuya Miki and Tokito Oda in two days time.

03/09/2024

The Medals Keep Coming as Scots Take Gold in the Pool and Silver on the Athletics Track on Day 6

Faye Rogers Wins Paralympic Gold on her Games Debut and it’s a Second Silver for Sammi in Paris.

Faye Rogers produced a stunning swim in the pool on day six of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

The 21-year-old put in a terrific performance in the women’s 100m butterfly S10 to take the title of Paralympic champion on her Games debut.

Faye made her intentions clear in the morning, when she clocked 1:05.92 in the heats – just 0.5 off her own European Record.

Whilst the final was harder work, the Scot backed herself as she turned for the final 50m in second place behind teammate Callie-Ann Warrington. She edged ahead with 25m to go and touched the wall first with a time of 1:05.84.

In 2021 she was involved in a car accident which squashed her Olympic dreams. Nearly three years to the day since that accident, she can now call herself a Paralympic champion.

“It’s a big full circle moment and I couldn’t be prouder of how far I’ve come. I couldn’t have asked for more from the last three years”, said Faye.

She went on to say: “Coming into Para sport has been the best thing, I couldn’t be more grateful for this journey and I have learned so much about myself. I’ve started getting messages off people in similar situations and it makes me so proud and grateful that my experiences are helping other people. There are so many people who could benefit from Para sport, it’s just amazing.”

“There are always days it feels like it’s never going to get any better but it does. There’s always a way to adapt to stuff and overcome stuff. I’ve found over the last three years there’s nothing I can’t do, it might just look a little bit different, and that’s absolutely OK. It has been such a whirlwind and I couldn’t be happier.”

Meanwhile on the Para athletics track – Sammi Kinghorn stormed to silver in the women’s 1500m T54, to claim the first of the two medals won today (3rd).

It’s a second silver for the Scot in Paris, adding to her 800m T53 medal won on Sunday 1st.

“Who would have thought a sprinter would get a medal over 1500m, I certainly did not. I thought I’d be jostling for fourth, maybe squeeze a third”, said Sammi.

The wheelchair racer clocked a time of 3:16.01 to seal the silver.

The 28-year-old said: “I kinda got a bit disorientated and I stopped at 200m to go because I thought we were done – it’s so loud in here which we’re not used to. So I learned I need to count laps. But that noise is absolutely electric and I’m absolutely buzzing to come away with a medal.”

Sammi continued to say, “You really just have to put yourself out there – there’s some strong, strong athletes in there. To beat Susanna [Scaroni, bronze medallist] has blown my mind and to be able to sit on the back wheel of Catherine is incredible.”

Teammate Melanie Woods put in a superb effort in a packed final to finish eighth with a time of 3:23.37. The 30-year-old from Glasgow, sang her teammates praises after the race:

“I train with Sammi so much throughout the year and to see her hard work turn into medals is so exciting and gives me hope that I can make the podium one day. It’s inspirational to see what she’s achieving out there.”

Gordon Reid and partner Alfie Hewett came head-to-head with the Netherlands Ruben Spaargaren and Maarten Ter Hofte in the men’s wheelchair tennis doubles.

Games were close and fiercely contested but Gordon and Alfie rallied through to secure the win, 6-2, 6-1.

“We came out firing right from the start and we produced some of our best stuff at the beginning of the match. That settled us down early and in the second set they raised their level and tested us a lot more. There were a lot of long games that we came out on top of and it was a really good test going into the next match”, said Gordon.

Day seven will be particularly busy for the 32-year-old Scot as he will compete in both the men’s singles quarterfinal and doubles seminfinal.

The current order of play sees him playing his singles semifinal against Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez at 11am BST, before he joins Alfie to play the doubles semifinal against home favourites Stephane Houdet and Frederic Cattaneo in the late afternoon.

On facing the French, the Scot commented: “We’re just really excited to come up against them. It was one of our dreams before the tournament to come up against the local favourites. We’ve got big singles matches first in the morning to deal with but once they’re over with, we’ll be ready to go.”

Stephane Houdet was in the men’s doubles pair that won gold at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, defeating Gordon and Alfie in both finals. Both Gordon and Alfie will be hoping that it’ll be third time lucky for them in Paris.

It was a tough start for the mixed team BC1/BC2, who suffered a 13-1 loss in their opening pool game against the People’s Republic of China. The mixed team, who is made up of Scotland’s Kayleigh Haggo, Claire Taggart and David Smith, had the challenge of resetting and refocusing before they took on Portugal in the evening pool match.

The trio produced the goods in a tightly fought game, winning 5-4 to advance to tomorrow’s quarterfinals where they will play Indonesia at 11:50am.

“It was really nerve-wracking, especially after the result this morning, so I’m so happy we got the win”, said Kayleigh following the win.

27/08/2024

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.

13/12/2023

From the Pool to Politics

Stefan Hoggan-Radu speaks about his journey in sport and life, as a celebration of the LGBTQ+ Rainbow Laces Campaign.

Stefan Hoggan-Radu has represented the LGBTQ+ community on many occasions as an elite Para athlete. Since his retirement from competitive sport he has continued to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in the political world, currently holding the position as Councillor for North East Fife.

A now proud spokesperson for disability and LGBTQ+ rights, his personal journey of self-love and acceptance was filled with challenges. Bullied throughout school for having a disability, Hoggan-Radu was apprehensive to share his sexual orientation.

At 23 years-old he was training as a British triathlete and was worried about the reaction that he would get from his fellow athletes and the triathlon community after coming out. However, when he came out he had nothing but acceptance from his peers and surrounding community.

When asked how this impacted his performance in sport, Hoggan-Radu explained that this emotional strain didn’t impact his results when competing. However, he recognises the impact that it had on his long term mental health, with him appreciating that this would have ultimately effected his training performance and routine.

Before triathlon, swimming was his first sport which saw him compete on the international stage. After missing out on the 2014 Common Wealth Games by 0.02 seconds, he took the tough decision to retire from swimming.

His involvement with Para swimming paved the way for his political career. After becoming a member of the Young Person’s Sport Panel, he embarked on a trip to America, through an exchange with Blaze sport. This trip was incredibly insightful, getting to analyse policy and procedures along with attending the British Embassy in Washington as a representative. This partly influenced his decision to enter the field of politics.

His personal experience of being bullied at school highlighted the, “real injustice around how disabled individuals are treated. They aren’t represented.” This was something that he wanted to change.

When asked what inclusivity means to him, not only as a former athlete but also a member of the SNP, he shared a memorable moment that took place following the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

When he was going to training, a child saw him and their first reaction was, “Mum, that is really cool. That man only has one arm. He could be in the Paralympics!”

Hoggan-Radu credits UK broadcasters for striving to be more inclusive and have better visual representation on screen. As a result of broadcasting the Paralympics, this child saw a disability and a future for them competing in sport.

He finds this memory very heartwarming and he believes that if more people see a disability, we can create a more accepting and inclusive society, which ultimately, will make the world a better place.

The Rainbow Laces Campaign concluded on Sunday (10^th) and leads the way on supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport, fitness and physical activity. Scottish Disability Sport are proud to support the Rainbow Laces Campaign and will continue to promote and encourage a fully inclusive society.

06/03/2017

Forth Valley Disability Sport School and Clubs Gala

Grangemouth Sports Complex was host to Forth Valley Disability Sport Regional School and Club Swimming Gala on Saturday 4^th March 2017.

Clubs and schools from throughout the Forth Valley and Lothian Area entered teams to compete in 25m, 50m and 100m events in freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke.

The event was very well attended with every swimmer having a fun and enjoyable time.

85 swimmers competed in the event to a very high standard. Many of who achieved the qualifying times for the Scottish Disability Sport National Swimming Championships that take place later this year.

The competition was very close and there was very little time between placing in many of the events, which made for a great atmosphere and lots of cheering from the spectator’s gallery.

Jim “The Swim” Anderson, 17-time Paralympic medallist, and Angus Whyte, Forth Valley Disability Sport Chair Person, presented medals to swimmers and everyone that participated received a certificate.

Many thanks must go to the many club volunteers, time keepers, marshals and officials for their assistance at the event.

Thank you to the many organisation and groups that support this event – Scottish Swimming officials, FVDS volunteers, Falkirk Community Trust, Clackmannanshire Council, Active Stirling.

For further information on swimming lessons and clubs for adults and children with physical, learning and sensory disabilities in the Forth Valley area telephone Forth Valley Disability Sport on 01786 466486 0r email: graham.harvey@fvds.org.uk