Who are the Channel 4 Paralympics athletics commentators?
PARIS is hosting the Paralympics for the first time in its history and fans are excitedly waiting to watch the athletics play out on the biggest stage in sports.
So who are the Channel 4 commentators who will be narrating the athletics at the record-breaking 2024 Paralympics?
Katherine Merry was the fastest girl in the world at age 14Reuters
Sophia was appointed as the commercial director at British Athletics in 2012Getty Images
Who are the Channel 4 Paralympics athletics commentators?
Sophia Warner
Sophia is a Paralympian who represented the UK in the 100m and 200m sprints at the London 2012 Olympics.
She first started pursuing running as a serious career, while she was studying for her degree in Biomedical Science and Business Studies at the University of Leicester.
The track star has cerebral palsy, a group of movement disorders that can affect speech and can cause poor co-ordination, tremors and weak muscles.
Although she did not win at the London Games, she went on to become the commercial director of UK Athletics in 2012.
Nathan Stephens
Nathan was the record holder in F57 javelin throw until September 2012PA: Empics sport
Nathan was born in South Wales, on April 11, 1988.
When he was just 9 years old, an railway accident resulted in him losing both of his legs.
Nathan recovered though and didn’t let the accident stop him from pursuing his sporting ambitions.
Until September 2012, he was the world record holder in the F57 javelin throw.
The Olympian did not win a medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games because his throwing style was judged to be illegal.
He argued that the throw has been allowed at the 2011 Commonwealth Games, but still failed to qualify for the final round at the 2012 Paralympics.
Nathan married Charlene Stephens in 2012, using prosthetic legs to walk down the aisle and dance with his wife.
Katharine Merry
Katharine was the fastest woman in the world, in 2001Getty Images
In 2001, Katharine Merry was the fastest woman in the world.
She represented the UK at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where she won a bronze medal in the 400m, and also appeared at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
It was at the Sydney Games that she ran 400m in 49.59 second and smashed the previous world record for that race.
Running had always been a big part of Katharine’s life, as she was already the fastest girl in the world when she was just 14.
She completed a 60m indoor race in 7.35secs, making her the fastest young person to finish a 60m race.
Her career as one of the world’s leading runners was brought to an end, though, in 2005 when bone spurs forced her to retire.
Since hanging up her racing trainers, Katharine has worked with the BBC and several other sports outlets to commentate live from the track-side.
Ronald McIntosh
Ronald is an award-winning sports broadcaster, who has worked with many big broadcasters (including the BBC).
He has been a commentator at five Olympic Games.
At the London 2012 Games, he narrated the first Olympic women’s boxing final.
According to his website, he enjoys documenting the “beautiful unpredictability of live sports”.
Robert Walker
Rob has coined the nicknames for some of snooker’s biggest starsGetty Images
Robert Walker is so ubiquitous as a sports presenter that he even has his own catchphrase: “Let’s get the boys on the baize”.
He often narrates snooker competitions, which is where his catchphrase originates (baize is the green cloth that covers a snooker table).
Robert is responsible for coining the nicknames for some of the biggest names in snooker, including “The Magician” for Shaun Murphy, “The Force” for Peter Ebdon and The Thunder From Down Under for Neil Robertson.
Outside of athletics, the Abingdon School alumni has commentated on tennis, darts, boxing, football, sailing and athletics.
How can you watch the Paralympic Games?
Channel 4 have over 1,300 hours of live Paralympic footage scheduled for the Games.
You can watch the Games live or on Channel 4’s streaming service.
The Paralympics normally take place two weeks after the Olympics end.
This year, the Paralympics will begin on August 28 at 7pm.
All of the events taking place at the Paris 2024 Paralympics
Each sport is broken down into subcategories giving athletes the chance to compete on equal terms with those who have a similar impairment.
Here are the events:
Para archery
Para athletics
Para badminton
Blind football
Boccia
Para canoe
Para cycling
Para equestrian
Goalball
Para judo
Para powerlifting
Para rowing
Shooting Para sport
Sitting volleyball
Para swimming
Para table tennis
Para taekwondo
Para triathlon
Wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair fencing
Wheelchair rugby
Wheelchair tennis