Over the course of the 11-day competition, competitors will compete in 22 sports for 549 gold medals.
The usual mix of established international talents looking to further their careers and up-and-comers looking to leave their imprint will be present at the Games.
When competition gets underway on Thursday, August 29, Sport takes a look at a few of the world-class athletes hoping to make a splash on the largest platform.
Italian swimmer Simone Barlaam par-swimming
Italy’s rise to prominence in the pool at the Paralympics may be largely attributed to Barlaam.
Due to a hip problem, the 24-year-old Milanese man was born with one leg shorter than the other and underwent multiple surgeries while growing up in Paris.
He began swimming competitively at the age of 14, made his international debut in Mexico at the 2017 World Championships, and since then, he has emerged as one of the S9 category’s top performers.
Barlaam claims that although he did not fare well in his first Paralympics in Tokyo, when he took home a gold, two silvers, and a bronze, he is a heavy favorite to add to his collection coming into the Paris Worlds having won six golds in six races in Manchester the previous year.
