U.S. Paralympics Track & Field is set to bring 55 athletes – 28 men and 27 women – to the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, representing the largest sport delegation at the Games for Team USA. Track and field athletes brought home 41 of Team USA’s 106 total medals at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 and will look to build on that impressive performance after a successful quad that featured the continued dominance of veterans and the rise of several newcomers in the sport.
After setting world records at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials – Track & Field in June, Paralympian Ezra Frech, along with Paralympic rookies Noelle Malkamaki and Jaydin Blackwell, lead a team that is also headlined by 20-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden. McFadden, who won three medals in Tokyo, is seeking to build on her legendary career in what will be her seventh Paralympic Games.
It will be the second Paralympic appearance for Frech, who is still a teenager but is the reigning men’s high jump T63 world record holder and the 2023 world champion. Malkamaki and Blackwell, meanwhile, have dominated the women’s shot put F46 and the men’s T38 sprints since coming into the sport post-Tokyo.
Also returning to the Paralympic stage are Paralympic champions David Blair, Jeremy Campbell, Breanna Clark, Brittni Mason, Susannah Scaroni, Mikey Brannigan, Sam Grewe, Noah Malone, Nick Mayhugh, Daniel Romanchuk and Roderick Townsend.
Athletes to Watch: #
Tatyana McFadden – 20-time Paralympic medalist, including 8 golds. 24-time world championships medalist, including 16 golds.
Roderick Townsend – Reigning high jump T47 world and Paralympic champion and world record holder, has not lost a major high jump competition since prior to Rio 2016, three-time Paralympic champion, 10-time world championships medalist
Noelle Malkamaki – First-time Paralympian who is the defending women’s shot put F46 world champion twice over and world record holder, recently wrapped an NCAA Division I collegiate career at DePaul University
Jaydin Blackwell – First-time Paralympian who is the two-time defending 100-meter and 400-meter T38 world champion, owns the world record in both events
- Derek Loccident – First-time Paralympian, arguably the most versatile athlete on the team as he will compete in sprints, throws and jumps in Paris; has won world championships medals in long jump, high jump and 100-meter sprint; Former Division I football player
For inquiries: Kristen Gowdy - kristen.gowdy@usopc.org