Fifty athletes and three guides were selected for Team USA competing at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships today by U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee. The event being held in London from July 14-23 will be the first major international track and field competition since the Paralympic Games Rio 2016 where Team USA won 42 medals.
"Coming off one of our most successful Paralympic performances in recent Games history, the team representing our country at world championships is a true reflection of the how strong our track and field program is," Cathy Sellers, U.S. Paralympics Track & Field High Performance Director said. "With a mix of stars who have already established themselves as the best in the world and a new generation of young and exciting talent, we are thrilled to showcase our talent on the world stage again in London."
The U.S. will send an experienced team to London with 43 Paralympians on the roster. Twenty of the athletes wearing the red, white and blue this summer combined for 38 of Team USA's 42 medals in Rio. Headlining the U.S. team are multi Games-medalists and world record-holders Tatyana McFadden (T54), Lex Gillette (T11), and Mikey Brannigan (T20). McFadden, who won six medals in Rio, will return to world championship action after missing 2015's edition with sights set on owning every world record in the women's T54 class.
Six athletes will return to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in hopes of repeating the success they had at the 2012 Games like gold medalists Ray Martin (T52) and Jeremy Campbell (F44).
A crop of young Rio medalists including Deja Young (T46) and Sam Grewe (F42)will look to defend their world titles from Doha, Qatar while Alexa Halko (T34) and Hunter Woodhall (T43) are seeking to convert their world silver medals to gold. Several newcomers will be also making their international debut, including Jaleen Roberts (T37) and Isaac Jean-Paul (F13) who set a high jump world record last weekend at the U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships.
Fifty athletes and three guides were selected for Team USA competing at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships today by U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee. The event being held in London from July 14-23 will be the first major international track and field competition since the Paralympic Games Rio 2016 where Team USA won 42 medals.
"Coming off one of our most successful Paralympic performances in recent Games history, the team representing our country at world championships is a true reflection of the how strong our track and field program is," Cathy Sellers, U.S. Paralympics Track & Field High Performance Director said. "With a mix of stars who have already established themselves as the best in the world and a new generation of young and exciting talent, we are thrilled to showcase our talent on the world stage again in London."
