17th Summer Paralympic Games Run Through September 8
The 2024 Summer Paralympic Games are off with a spectacular start in Paris. Elite athletes from around the world are competing in sports ranging from Archery to Wheelchair Basketball. North Carolina will be represented at the games this year.
Here are some of the athletes from the Tar Heel State:
Carson Clough: The Charlotte Latin alum played lacrosse at North Carolina starting in 2013. A subsequent boating accident in 2019 on Lake Norman led to partial amputation of his right leg.
- Sport: Paralympics triathlon
Heather Erickson: The four-time Paralympic medalist from Fayetteville has won gold twice (in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro) and silver twice (in London and Beijing). Erickson was born with a bone that prevented her leg from fully developing, leading to its amputation when she was 9-years-old.
- Sport: Sitting volleyball
Samantha Heyison: The 19-year-old was born with constricted band syndrome and attends Wake Forest.
- Sport: Paralympics track and field
Desmond Jackson: The Durham native and Campbell University alum will compete in his second Paralympics. Jackson, who was born with a limb difference which led to the amputation of his left leg when he was 9-months-old, also competed in Rio.
- Sport: Paralympics track and field
Coverage of the games is on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and CNBC.