Team England has announced 21 Para Athletics athletes that have been selected to represent the home nation at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The team features athletes who have previously experienced Paralympic and Commonwealth Games success, including the likes of David Weir, Hannah Cockroft, and Ola Abidogun. The athletes will be aiming to ‘Bring it Home’ in front of the Alexander Stadium crowds from Tuesday 2nd August to Sunday 7th August.

Kelly Sotherton, Team England’s Athletics Team Leader at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome these 21 athletes to Team England after they accepted invitations to what promises to be an incredibly exciting Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. This team represents a wonderful blend of youth and experience, and we know these athletes can’t wait to represent England this summer. We look forward to supporting them both in the lead-up to, and during, the Games in front of a home crowd in Birmingham.”

Speaking about her excitement on competing at a home Games, Hannah Cockroft said: “It will be the first time in a decade that a global, multi-sport event has been hosted on these shores since London 2012. Not only will Birmingham 2022 offer a wonderful reminder of how sport can unify this great nation, but a new generation will also get to see and experience for the first time, the noise of a ‘home’ Games in England.”

Kare Adenegan, added: “To have the honour of representing England in a home Commonwealth Games is something truly special and we could not be prouder.”

Six-time Paralympic medallist, Dan Greaves shared: “We know it has been an extremely difficult time for everybody over the last two years. When we, as para athletes, compete as Team England in Birmingham this summer, we hope we can bring some joy to the nation and provide moments on inspiration that will last a lifetime.”

This summer, Team England will comprise of over 400 athletes in total, all of whom will look to capitalise on the once in a lifetime opportunity to bring home success in their own country. The Para Athletics athletes announced to represent Team England are:

·       Ola Abidogun (Wigan)

·       Kare Adenegan (Coventry)

·       Fabienne Andre (Brighton)

·       James Arnott (Watford)

·       Hetty Bartlett (Ipswich)

·       Shaun Burrows (Stoke on Trent)

·       Hannah Cockroft(Chester)

·       Stacie Gaston-Monerville (London)

·       Dan Greaves (Quorn)

·       Sophie Hahn (Nottingham)

·       Simon Lawson (Maryport)

·       Nathan Maguire (Chester)

·       Shelly Oxley-Woods (Lytham-St Annes)

·       Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker (Grays)

·       Eden Rainbow-Cooper (Portsmouth)

·       Zac Shaw (Loughborough)

·       Danny Sidbury (London, currently living in Spain)

·       Ali Smith (Liphook)

·       JohnBoy Smith (London)

·       David Weir (East Sussex)

·       Thomas Young (Shepshed)

Team England’s Chef de Mission, Mark England OBE, welcomed the athletes to the team: “Team England has a rich history in Para Athletics and I am delighted to welcome our athletes for the home Games in Birmingham this summer. The Alexander Stadium home crowd will be right behind the team and I’m hopeful that we’ll see success as our athletes aim to ‘Bring It Home’ in Birmingham.”

You can get behind Team England by following its social channels where each athlete will become Part of the Pride in the run up to Birmingham.