PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Mark Arendz excited to race at Paralympic course
The Canadian Nordic skier is a strong favourite for gold in the men’s biathlon standing events at the World Cup in PyeongChang, South Korea, from 10-15 March.

Arnost Petracek voted Czech Para athlete of the year
The swimmer took home his nation’s lone gold medal from Rio 2016.

Ibrahim Al-Hussein wins prestigious USSA award
The Syrian refugee swimmer competed for the Independent Paralympic Athletes Team at Rio 2016.
Roland Garros is top of the list for Griffioen
The Dutch player’s main target for 2017 is not to remain as world No.1 but to win more Grand Slams.

Nominations process opens for IPC Governing Board elections
The successor to IPC President Sir Philip Craven will be elected this September in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Switzerland’s Cuche focused on Paralympic prize
Robin Cuche won his first World Championships medal in January, surprising himself, and is working towards PyeongChang 2018.

Three reasons why Jessica Long loves swimming
After competing at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, the US swimmer will be back to the pool at the 2017 World Para Swimming Series in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 11-12 March.

Iran’s President praises Paralympians at special ceremony
Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, host a special ceremony for the Paralympians who competed at Rio 2016, in the country’s capital city of Tehran.
Muraoka’s home win puts her in World Cup contention
The Japanese sit skier moved within 40 points of Germany’s Anna Schaffelhuber in the super-G in Hakuba.

Para cycling Track Worlds come to a close
Joseph Berenyi won two golds on the last day of competition (5 March) on home soil in Los Angeles, including USA’s first gold ever in the men’s team sprint event.