Scots in Paris: Paralympic Preview and schedule for our three Scots

Friday 30th August 2024

Images: Getty Images / Bobby Gavin

Three Scots will take to the Stade de France over the next week as they prepare to race on para sport’s biggest stage, the Paralympic Games.

Wheelchair athletes Samantha Kinghorn and Melanie Woods, plus T20 athlete Ben Sandilands will form part of a 33-strong team of GB athletes.

Club-mates Kinghorn and Woods both represent Red Star AC and are coached by Rodger Harkins.

They will compete in a number of events each, with Sammi competing in the T53 100m, 400m, 800m and 1500m, and potentially the 4 x 100m Universal Relay, while Melanie will race over 400m, 800m and 1500m in the T54 classification.

Neither is a stranger to the Paralympic stage. It is a third Games for Kinghorn, who raced in Rio and Tokyo, bringing home two medals from the latter; a bronze in the 100m and silver in the 400m.

Having brought home three medals from last summer’s World Para Athletics Championships, including a gold in the 100m, she will be looking to make it onto the podium once again.

She has had a stellar season so far, setting new PBs in all four distances at the WPA Grand Prix in Switzerland in June. She reduced her 100m time further just two weeks ago at the BAA Grand Prix, Stoke Mandeville.

Speaking to the Herald, Sammi said: ‘I’m feeling really good and I couldn’t have asked for a better first half of the year, so I’m very excited to get started in Paris.

‘Of course I really want a gold medal and I’m in Paris to win,

‘But I’m also really aware that a gold medal in Paris won’t make me any happier than I already am. All I can do is my best and as long as I give it everything and put in a good performance, I’ll be happy.’

Read the full Herald article.

Photo: imagecomms for ParalympicsGB

It is a second Paralympics for Woods after having also competed in Tokyo, where she finished fifth in the 800m final. She too has been in the form of her life this season, having also set PBs across all three of her distances in 2024.

Speaking to sportscotland ahead of the Games, Mel said:

‘I’m super excited to be part of the team heading out to Paris,

‘Tokyo was a complete surprise and I feel like Paris is going to be a completely different experience so I’m really excited to be part of it all.’

Watch the full video.

Photo: imagecomms for ParalympicsGB

Ben Sandilands makes his Paralympic debut. The Fife AC athlete who is coached by Steve Doig, will compete at his first Paralympics in the T20 1500m.

At just 21 years old, he is already making his mark on the World stage, and is the current World Champion. He was also on top at Wanda Diamond League London last month in his final International appearance before the Games.

Schedule

Sunday 1 September
T53 800m (Final only) – Samantha Kinghorn
T54 800m (Heats & Final) – Melanie Woods

Monday 2 September
T54/53 1500m (Heats) – Samantha Kinghorn & Melanie Woods

Tuesday 3 September
T54/53 1500m Final

Wednesday 4 September
T53 100m (Final only) – Samantha Kinghorn

Thursday 5 September
T53 400m (Final only) – Samantha Kinghorn
T54 400m (Heats & Final) – Melanie Woods

Friday 6 September
T20 1500m (Final only) – Ben Sandilands
Universal 4 x 100m Relay (Heats & Final) – Samantha Kinghorn*

*Team TBC

Tags: Ben Sandilands, Fife AC, Melanie Woods, Paralympics, Paris, Paris 2024, Red Star AC, Rodger Harkins, Samantha Kinghorn, Steve Doig