In a spectacular opening ceremony at the Place de la Concorde, Nigerian athletes proudly represented the nation at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, with Lauritta Onye leading the charge as Nigeria’s flag bearer. The event, held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, marked the official start of the 17th edition of the Paralympic Games.
This year, 4,000 athletes from around the globe will compete for 547 medals across 22 sports, with Nigeria fielding a team of 23 determined athletes. The Nigerian contingent includes nine powerlifters, eight table tennis players, five track and field athletes, and two badminton players, all eager to add to Nigeria’s impressive Paralympic legacy.
Nigeria's journey at the Paralympics began in 1992 at the Barcelona Games, where six male athletes competed in track and field, powerlifting, and table tennis. That year, Adeoye Ajibola made history by winning two gold medals in sprinting, even earning a place in the Guinness Book of Records for completing the 100-meter dash in 10.72 seconds. Nigeria’s success continued with Monday Emoghawve, who also claimed gold in powerlifting.
Over the nine Paralympic editions Nigeria has participated in, the country’s athletes have showcased exceptional talent and resilience, earning a total of 80 medals—40 gold, 19 silver, and 21 bronze. This year, the team is poised to increase that tally as they compete on the world stage.
The 2024 Paralympics will run for 11 days, from August 28 to September 8.
