Brazil begins Paralympic Games in search of historic campaign
Brazil is kicking off its Paralympic Games campaign in Paris with the aim of achieving its most successful performance to date. To reach this goal, the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB) has assembled the largest delegation in the nation's history for the competition. This delegation includes 280 athletes: 255 with disabilities, 19 guide athletes (18 for athletics and 1 for triathlon), three boccia athletes, two goalkeepers for blind soccer, and a rowing coach.
"In our strategic plan from 2017, we set a goal of winning between 70 and 90 medals and finishing in the top eight," said CPB President Mizael Conrado. "However, our true expectation is that Brazil will achieve its best campaign ever at the Paris Games," which will take place from Wednesday (Aug. 28) to September 8.
The goal is to surpass Brazil's previous Paralympic campaigns in Rio (2016) and Tokyo (2020), where the country won 72 medals in each event. Notably, Brazil set a record in Tokyo with 22 gold medals, surpassing its 21-gold performance at the London Games (2012). In the Rio Games of 2016, Brazil claimed 14 golds.
Brazil's prospects for an unforgettable campaign in the French capital are strong, with the country competing in 20 out of the 22 sports. The only exceptions are wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby, where Brazil will not have representation.
In search of the 400th medal
Since the inception of the Paralympic Games in Rome (1960), Brazil has amassed a total of 373 medals—109 gold, 132 silver, and 132 bronze. The country is now just 27 podium finishes away from reaching the 400-medal milestone.
The opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympic Games is set to begin at 3 p.m. (Brasília time) this Wednesday.
Current Paralympic champions Beth Gomes (athletics) and Gabriel Araújo (swimming) will serve as the flag bearers for the Brazilian delegation at the opening ceremony of the Paris Games. At 59, Gomes, a multi-time champion in discus and weight throw, will lead the parade alongside Araújo, 22, known as Gabrielzinho, who won two gold medals and a silver at his debut Paralympics in Tokyo 2020.
