A trio of Wiltshire athletes training at the University of Bath heading to Paris for the 2024 Paralympic Games.

With the Games getting underway on August 28, three Wiltshire athletes from the University of Bath will be making their way to the French capital to help Paralympics GB try and exceed their total of 124 medals from Tokyo.

Piers Gilliver of Trowbridge will be competing in the para-fencing, Dan Bethell from Marshfield will be competing in the para-badminton, and Suzanna Hext of Calne in the para-swimming.

Gilliver will be looking to repeat his success from three years ago in Tokyo, where he won a gold medal in the Category A epee as an individual, as well as a silver and bronze medal respectively in the team foil and team epee. Having previously been a silver medallist in the Category A epee in Rio de Janeiro, he will be in search to add to his collection of four medals.

He said: “It’s going to be a challenging environment – not only are you facing the world's best athletes but you've also got a very tough schedule to stick to.

“It’s going to be a really special experience, though. Paris is so close to home, we've got a fantastic venue with the Grand Palais, and friends and family will be able to come and support us. That will mean a huge amount.”

Bethell made history in Tokyo at the last Games as he became Paralympics GB’s first-ever para-badminton medallist when he took silver in the SL3 men’s singles and will be hoping to repeat that accomplishment or even go one better this time around.

He said: “My hope is to win the gold medal, that's what I set out to do in this sport from the very beginning. Winning a silver in Tokyo was one dream fulfilled and it's amazing to be a Paralympian, now I want to upgrade the colour in Paris.”

Hext came desperately close to a medal in Tokyo in both the 200-metre freestyle S5 and 100-metre freestyle S5 but comes into these Games having won gold at the World Championships in 2023 at the 50-metre freestyle S5.

She said: "Watching on TV and seeing that pool – oh my gosh, it’s going to be insane!

“I’m going to be able to hear the noise too because of the rule change which means I’m allowed to race with my cochlear implants. I can’t wait."