Three years after Tokyo 2020 (which was postponed in 2021 due to the pandemic), the Paralympic flame will burn in the French capital at Games that aim to be the most watched and broadcasted in history. For eleven days, from 28 August to 8 September, the Games will bring together the elite of Paralympic sport, a group of more than 4,000 athletes competing in 22 disciplines. In this edition, the key message of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) aims to reverse the general perception that the Paralympic Games are a secondary and minor event to the Olympic Games and, instead, show that it is a world-class competition that brings together the best para-athletes on the planet.
The Colombian delegation will break the record for participation in Paris 2024, with 78 athletes, 47 men and 31 women. Led by athletics and swimming, Colombia will be present in ten disciplines and will debut in blind football, shooting and triathlon. The delegation will try to surpass the record of Tokyo 2020, when they collected 24 medals: three gold, seven silver and 14 bronze.
The current delegation includes figures of the stature of Carlos Daniel Serrano, a multi-Paralympic medallist considered the best para-swimmer in the world and the architect of Colombia’s first gold in 36 years. At Rio 2016, at just 18 years old, Serrano broke a drought of more than three decades without a gold medal. Eight years after the milestone that put Colombian Paralympic sport on the map, Serrano is presenting himself at Paris 2024 as the country’s leading figure, with seven Paralympic medals and multiple world records under his belt.
Where to watch the Paralympic Games?
In Colombia, Claro Sports will broadcast most sporting events through two simultaneous channels on YouTube. The launch will take place on August 28 at 13:00 (Colombian time) from the Place de la Concorde and the Champs Elysees.
Colombia’s Paralympic Games schedule
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Athletics
From August 30th to September 8th
The athletics events will take place from August 30 to September 8, with medals being awarded every day in different categories. The Colombian delegation is attending this Paralympic event with 31 paraathletes. The delegation is made up of:
- Erica Castaño
- Yesenia Restrepo
- Francy Osorio
- William Higuera (guide)
- Maria Salome Henao
- Darian Jimenez
- Angie Pabon
- Luis Arizala (guide)
- Ionius Salcedo
- Niver Palmera (guide)
- Xiomara Hernandez
- Karen Palomeque
- Maria Alejandra Murillo
- Yeniffer Paredes
- Yesica Munoz
- Mayerli Buitrago
- Yasiris Blandon
- Buinder Bermudez
- Diego Meneses
- John Obando
- Giovanni Malambo
- Jose Lemos
- Luis Fernando Lara
- Juan Campas
- Andres Mosquera
- Santiago Solis
- Luis Francisco Sanclemente
- Luis Fernando Lucumí
- Mauricio Valencia
- Yamil Acosta
- Yeferson Suarez
Bowl
August 29, 30 and 31 (qualifying), individual finals (September 1 and 2)
Jesús Romero, Renyel Romero, Edilson Chica, Euclides Grisales and Leidy Chica will compete starting on August 29 in Paris 2024. The discipline will award individual medals on September 1 and 2.
Leidy Chica will begin her Paralympic journey on August 29 at 5:50 a.m., while Jesús Romero will start his activity at 7:00 a.m. on the same day. Three hours later, Euclides Grisales and Edilson Chica will compete in their first match in Paris 2024. The activity on August 29 will culminate with Leidy Chica’s next match at 12:20 p.m.
Football for the blind
The Paralympic football team, led by Fernando Carrillo, will play its first match against Japan on September 1 at 4:30 a.m. The following day, it will play its second match against Argentina at 4:30 a.m. and on September 3, it will face Morocco in its last preliminary match at the same time. If it advances, the Colombian team will return to action on September 5, two days before the gold final, which will take place on September 7 at 3:00 a.m.
Cycling
August 29th to September 7th
The Colombian para-cycling team, made up of Juan José Betancourt, Edwin Matiz, Carlos Vargas, Daniela Munévar and Paula Ossa, will compete in Paris starting on August 29, when Daniela Munévar begins her qualification in the 3,000 meters at 6:00 a.m.
Swimming
From August 29th to September 7th
The Defense Arena will open its doors for Paralympic swimming from August 29 to September 7. The national team, made up of 16 athletes and headed by Carlos Daniel Serrano, includes:
- Maria Paula Barrier
- Gisell Prada
- Mariana Guerrero
- Zharith Rodríguez
- Gabriela Oviedo
- Sara del Pilar Vargas
- Laura Carolina Gonzalez
- Daniel Correa
- Nelson Crispin Corzo
- David Rendon
- Unfortunately Lemus
- Juan Esteban Garcia
- Brayan Triana
- Miguel Angel Rincon
- Kevin Moreno
Daniel Serrano’s activity at Paris 2024 will start on Friday, August 30 at 1:14 p.m. with the final of the men’s 100-meter breaststroke SB8. A day later, Serrano will return to compete in the final of the men’s 200-meter individual SM7 at 3:02 p.m. His third foray into the pool will come on Wednesday, September 4 at 12:06 p.m. with the final of the men’s 50-meter freestyle S7 and he will close his Paralympic activity on Saturday, September 7 at 11:30 a.m., with the last chance for a medal in the final of the men’s 50-meter butterfly S7.
Powerlifting
(August 4-8)
Eglain Mena, Fabio Torres, Bertha Fernández, Aura Poblador and Ana Lucía Pinto will enter into action on August 4 and the competitions will continue until the closing of the Games on August 8.
Wheelchair tennis
August 30th
The pair formed by María Angélica Bernal and Zuleiny Rodríguez will start the Paralympic tournament facing the hosts on August 30 at 4:00 a.m.
Archery
August 29-30 (qualifiers), August 31-September 5 (finals)
Archery activity begins with preliminary rounds on August 29 and 30, while the finals will award medals from August 31 to September 5. Héctor Julio Ramírez will be active on August 29 at 6:00 a.m.; while María Daza will do the same later, at 10:00 a.m. (Colombian time).
Sport shooting
María Teresa Restrepo Rojas, the only Colombian representative in this discipline, will start her activity in Paris on September 1 at 2:30 in the morning in the 10-meter air rifle SH1 category qualifier; and will compete again on September 4 at 7:00 in the morning in the R6 category of the 50-meter pistol.
Triathlon
September 1st and 2nd
The waters of the Seine will once again host triathlon on Sunday 1 and Monday 2 September. Juan Esteban Patiño will take part in the men’s PTS2 triathlon starting at 01.20 on the morning of 1 September.
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