Here are the Washington athletes competing at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris
Washington is one of the most well-represented states with 11 athletes competing at the Paris Paralympic Games.
AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko
In just a few days, the 2024 Paralympic Games begin in Paris – the first time the city is hosting the Paralympics.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) recently announced its 225-person roster, which includes nearly a dozen athletes from Washington state. Following the Paris Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games are the world’s largest competition for athletes with disabilities
You can watch the Paralympic Games’ Opening Ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 28. The Paralympic Games run through Sept. 8. The 11 days of competition feature 22 sports with 549 combined medal events.
Team USA has an even split of women and men competing in the Paralympics. There are 110 men, 110 women and five guides (three men and two women).
Washington is one of the states with the most representation, with 11 athletes on the U.S. Paralympic Team.
Cycling
Travis Gaertner, of Burien, is competing in the Paralympic Games after his last appearance exactly 20 years ago. Gaertner competed in the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games in wheelchair basketball, winning gold both times.
Now, Gaertner is returning in a new sport. Gaertner was born without legs, and in 2018 he decided to start training in handcycling, a form of paracycling. He previously told KING 5 that he was thrilled to learn he'd qualified for Paris.
Gaertner will compete live in the Paris Paralympics on NBC in a time trial on Sept. 3, a road race on Sept. 5, and a relay on Sept. 7.
Elouan Gardon is an 18-year-old para-cyclist from Acme. He's the youngest member of Team USA's cycling crew, and is also making his Paralympics debut. He'll be riding in the MC5 category of road racing in Paris.
Gardon competes on Sept. 3 and Sept. 6.
Equestrian
Roxanne Trunnell, of Kennewick, is competing in her third Paralympic Games in Paris. In 2020, Trunnell won gold medals in the individual championship test and individual freestyle. She also earned a bronze medal in the team competition.
The two-time gold medalist will compete beginning Sept. 3 in the individual Grade 1 equestrian event.
Shooting
McKenna Geer, of Arlington, will make her third Paralympics appearance in Paris. Geer, who was born with amyoplasia arthrogryposis, which affects muscle development, was the first woman to win a medal in shooting for the US at the Paralympic Games eight years ago.
At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Geer earned a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle open shooting, and returned to compete in the 2020 Paralympic Games in three individual shooting events.
Geer is competing on Aug. 30, Sept. 1 and Sept. 4.
Sitting Volleyball
Katie (Holloway) Bridge is on Team USA's sitting volleyball squad. The well-decorated Paralympian from Lake Stevens is competing in the games for her fifth time. Bridge was born with a fibular hemimelia in her right leg and her parents decided to amputate part of her leg when she was nearly 2 years old, according to Team USA.
Bridge won two gold medals in 2020 and 2016 and two silver medals in 2012 and 2008.
The United States' first preliminary round game is against China on Aug. 30.
Track and Field
Hannah Dederick, of Mead, will make her second appearance at the Paralympic Games in Paris. Dederick, who was born with a spinal cord condition called spina bifida, previously raced in Tokyo. In Paris, she will compete in the women's T54 100-meter prelims on Sept. 4 and 800-meter prelims on Sept. 1.
Lauren Fields, who is from the Spokane Valley, is a first-time Paralympian. She will compete in the T34 100-meter race on Sept. 1 and 800-meter race on Sept. 7.
Lindi Marcusen, from Spokane, is a first-time Paralympian. The former gymnast was in a car crash in 2017 and had her leg amputated. At the Paralympic track team trials, Marcusen set a new American record in the 100-meter. She races in the T63 100-meter prelims on Sept. 7 and competes in the long jump on Sept. 5.
Susannah Scaroni, who is from Tekoa, will make her fourth Paralympics appearance in Paris after competing in 2012, 2016 and 2020. In Tokyo, Scaroni won a gold medal in the women's T54 5,000-meter race and a bronze medal in the 800-meter race.
Scaroni competes in the 5,000m T54 on Aug. 31, the 800m prelims on Sept. 1, the 1,500m on Sept. 2 and ends with the marathon on Sept. 7.
Taylor Swanson is a sprinter from Seattle. Swanson, who was diagnosed with a phonological process disorder as a child and with cerebral palsy in 2023, is making her Paralympics debut. She will compete in the T37 200-meter prelims on Aug. 30 and the 100-meter prelims on Sept. 4.
Jaleen Roberts, of Kent, is a two-time silver medalist at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in the women's 100-meter T37 and long jump. In Paris, she'll be back for more hardware in the T37 long jump on Sept. 1 and the 100-meter prelims on Sept. 4.