A defending champion and a trailblazing expectant mother are among the four athletes selected for the ParalympicsGB archery squad for Paris 2024.
Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Phoebe Paterson-Pine and Jodie Grinham, who will be 28 weeks pregnant when competing at Paris 2024 will be representing ParalympicsGB for the second time alongside Nathan Macqueen, who will be competing in his third Paralympic Games. They are joined by Victoria Kingstone who will make her Paralympic debut in the French capital.
Phoebe said: "Just making Tokyo was an absolute dream come true so to be selected for my second Games as well is like one goal after another coming true!
"I'm also grateful the Games are so close to home this time, not only from a travel perspective but also being able to have my family and friends come and watch. Tokyo felt quite isolating at times, so being able to have them all come and support and see them and have a hug if needed is so important.
"I want to treat every single Games as a separate Games. I will always be Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion; nobody can take that away from me. Do I want to be Paris 2024 Paralympic champion? – of course I do – but I'm not going to put that pressure on myself. I'm 26 years old, I want to go out there, enjoy the experience and enjoy being a two-time Paralympian."
Jodie, who hails from Haverfordwest in Wales and now lives in Crawley, Sussex, won silver in the Compound Mixed Team event at Rio 2016. She will be 28 weeks pregnant when she competes in Paris, which is thought to be a first for any Paralympian competing for Great Britain.
The 30-year-old said: "It's a very different experience for me this time around. You've got the athlete in me who's relieved, excited and extremely prepared and then you've also got the mummy in me that's going to miss home, miss my son and will be 28 weeks pregnant when competing in Paris. It's all about creating a balance – as much as I know I'm going to miss home; I also love what I do so there's always going to be a compromise.
"I can say I've been in the Paralympic family for eight years now and it really is family – we all support each other regardless of what we've gone through.
"I would love to bring a medal back like I did in Rio. To get on the podium, not just for myself and the performances I've done, but for women to show you can compete while pregnant and do well."
Students from a local college were invited to cheer on the athletes at Lilleshall
The four archers were officially announced by ParalympicsGB at an event at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, the home of Archery GB, and the location of the recently opened Performance Archery Centre where the team have been training in the run up to Paris. The event, part of an international camp with visiting athletes from France, Finland, Hungary and Ireland, also saw children from local schools invited to meet the athletes and have a go at archery.
Nathan, 33, made his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 just months after his first international competition. The Scot, who lives in Dumfries, is the current world number two.
Nathan said: "I'm really excited to be selected in what will be my third Paralympic Games. Taking part in three consecutive Games has not been easy by any means, but I want to keep going and become the Scottish Paralympian with the most Paralympic appearances.
"In comparison to previous Games it feels more real. Tokyo was what it was because of the way the world was at the time. I’m absolutely buzzing to be heading to Paris.
"My wife, son and lots of my family will all be coming to watch which will be brilliant. In terms of aspirations, you always want to win a medal. I don't care what colour it is but just to be able to give my little boy a medal would be very cool."
Completing the squad is Paralympic debutant Victoria Kingstone, originally from Rainham in Kent and now living in Camberley, Surrey, who will compete in the W1 Open category.
The 42-year-old, who won mixed team bronze at the 2023 European Para Championships said: "I just missed out on Tokyo but I'm looking forward to Paris, albeit a little nervous too. The closer it gets the more you realise the scale it is going to be and it's daunting but it's about getting the balance right, focusing on just delivering the best performance you can give. Preparations are going well, but with it being my first Games I haven't got anything to compare it to. I don't know how I'm going to perform but particularly in my category anything is possible!
"Being so close to home it almost feels like a home Games. My family is from Kent so they're hoping to come over and watch me compete which will be really nice and even those that aren't able to travel, the minimal time difference will make it a lot easier for everyone to watch."
ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe said: "I'm absolutely delighted to welcome our four Para archers to the ParalympicsGB team for Paris 2024. Nathan, Phoebe and Jodie all have fantastic Paralympic experience behind them and I know as a group will lead the way when it comes to sharing that Paralympic journey with Victoria as she makes her Paralympic debut in Paris.
"I'm especially pleased for Jodie who has been selected to compete for ParalympicsGB as an expectant mum – a first for ParalympicsGB and news we were delighted to learn. ParalympicsGB has been in close contact with the support team at Archery GB as well as colleagues at the UK Sports Institute to ensure Jodie is well looked after at the Games and I know she has been thorough in her preparations too."
Rachel Bayley, Paralympic Archery Team Leader, said: "I'm proud of the whole team. They've all worked so hard to get to where they are today. We have some with pedigree from past Paralympics, some that perhaps have some unfinished business, one debutant and some silverware from recent international competitions which is really positive. Whilst we don't like to talk specifically about medal outcome, I'm very aware of what this team is capable of and so are they.
"Every team that's going to be in Paris is going to be very competitive and we will be too. I'm confident we’ve got the ability to be there and compete and hopefully that will deliver some success."
A total of around 230 athletes from 19 sports are expected to make up the British team that will compete in Paris.
At Tokyo 2020, ParalympicsGB won medals across a record breaking 18 different sports - the highest number of any nation ever. ParalympicsGB finished second on the medal table with 124 medals overall, including 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze.
Nathan Macqueen – Compound Men Open
Jodie Grinham – Compound Women Open
