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AT THE GAMES — The Olympic flame has been extinguished over the streets of Paris, but thousands of athletes will still take to competition representing their countries in the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics, which begin Wednesday with an opening ceremony of its own.
Seven athletes who were born in or live and train and Utah will don the red, white and blue in pursuit of Paralympic gold over the next month.
The list is led by three-time Paralympic medalist Hunter Woodhall, who grew up in Syracuse; 2016 gold medalist David Blair, a Davis High and Weber State discus alum who lives in Eagle Mountain; and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist in wheelchair basketball Ali Ibanez, a Murray native.
"Having been born and raised in Utah adds so much to my experience representing Team USA at the Games," Blair said. "I love Utah so much, and I love the fact that I personally get to bring a little piece of Utah to Team USA."
Woodhall, who was born in Georgia before his family moved to Syracuse while his father served in the military, is a three-time Paralympic medalist who first won silver in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro in the 200-meter T44 and a bronze in the 400-meter T44 the same year. He added a bronze in the 400-meter T62 in Tokyo in 2020, and earned silver medals in the 100-meter T64 and 400-meter T62 at the world championships in Kobe, Japan, earlier this year.
The first double amputee to earn a track and field scholarship in Division I athletics when he signed with Arkansas, Woodhall married his longtime girlfriend, Olympic long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall, two years ago and the couple went viral during the Paris Olympics in large part through Woodhall's emotional reaction to his wife's gold medal-clinching jump.
Davis-Woodhall used the same platform to send a message.
"This is not the end of the Olympic season," Davis-Woodhall told NBC while draped in her nation's flag.
Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall has an important reminder! 🚨
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 15, 2024
The #ParisParalympics begin August 28 on NBC, USA and Peacock. pic.twitter.com/1PqIV31ckW
Here's a look at the athletes from Utah that will represent Team USA in competition, courtesy of the Utah Sports Commission:
- David Blair, discus, Eagle Mountain resident
- Hunter Woodhall, 100M and 400M, Syracuse High alum
- Dennis Connors, para cycling, University of Utah alum
- Ali Ibanez, wheelchair basketball, Murray native
- Garrett Schoonover, wheelchair fencing, Sandy resident
- Raelene Elam, sitting volleyball, St. George resident (alternate)
- Audrey Kim, para swimming, Olympus High alum (alternate)
NBC and Peacock will broadcast the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games, live at 12 p.m. MDT on USA Network and Peacock. Every event will stream live on Peacock.
