History-maker Storey to compete in ninth Paralympics

Great Britain's astir successful Paralympian Sarah Storey says being selected for a ninth Games was a "pinch-me moment" aft she was named connected Monday successful a 23-strong cycling squad for Paris 2024.

The 46-year-old made her debut arsenic a swimmer successful Barcelona successful 1992 aged 14 earlier switching to cycling successful Beijing successful 2008.

She won a record-breaking 17th Paralympic golden successful Tokyo successful 2021 successful nan C4-5 roadworthy title to move 1 golden up of Mike Kenny and go GB's astir dressed up competitor.

Unlike successful her erstwhile Games arsenic a cyclist, Storey will not compete connected nan way and will alternatively attraction connected nan clip proceedings and roadworthy title events which will return spot successful Clichy, adjacent Paris.

"I'm thrilled to person nan chance to put connected nan ParalympicsGB kit again," Storey told BBC Sport.

"It is simply a pinch-me infinitesimal and is simply a dream I didn’t cognize I had arsenic a kid.

"It has been a immense information since nan lockdown Games successful Tokyo to get to Paris and to beryllium capable to person each those spectators there. It feels for illustration a location Games again.

"For me, it is each astir trying to take sides my 2 roadworthy titles from Tokyo. I americium besides double world champion from Glasgow successful 2023 successful those 2 events.

"These Games will person 2 different courses truthful each clip you get connected nan commencement statement it is simply a different situation that lies up and you request different skills.

"I deliberation that is what keeps it exciting, keeps everyone guessing and keeps maine moving difficult to spot if I tin propulsion retired different awesome performance."

She is joined connected nan squad by chap Tokyo golden medallists Kadeena Cox, Jody Cundy, who will beryllium competing astatine his eighth Games, Jaco van Gass and Ben Watson positive hubby and woman Neil and Lora Fachie and their sighted pilots Corrine Hall and Matt Rotherham.

The squad besides includes existent world champions Lizzi Jordan and Danni Khan, Daphne Schrager, Archie Atkinson, Blaine Hunt, Fin Graham and Fran Brown.

Tokyo medallists Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl, James Ball and Steve Bate are besides named on pinch pilots Steffan Lloyd and Chris Latham and Paralympic debutant Matt Robertson.

Track events return spot from 29 August-1 September followed by roadworthy events from 4-7 September.

The GB cycling squad enjoyed their astir successful Paralympic Games ever successful Tokyo, coming location pinch 24 medals pinch each rider winning a medal.

Graham won 2 silvers successful nan C3 class connected his Games debut successful Tokyo but nan 24-year-old Scot has claimed world golden connected nan way and roadworthy since past and is hoping for much successful France.

"In Tokyo I was capable to afloat attraction connected capacity without nan crowd and other distractions truthful I could conscionable attraction connected getting nan champion retired of myself," he told BBC Sport.

"Now I cognize what performances to spell done to get that retired of myself, truthful hopefully I tin bask nan ambiance more, soak it up and acquisition nan Games for what it is.

"It will beryllium breathtaking to person a afloat Games pinch friends and family there."

Having vanished 2nd down team-mates Van Gass and Watson successful nan individual pursuit and roadworthy title respectively, Graham wants to spell 1 amended successful Paris.

"Jaco and I person had immoderate bully battles and it keeps you focused successful training, but I’ve been going good connected nan roadworthy successful some nan clip proceedings and roadworthy title this season," Graham added.

"Going to Tokyo I had only won 1 World Cup bronze, but since past I've won six world championships and aggregate World Cups truthful I consciousness my performances person stepped connected since then.

"I consciousness a batch stronger and hopefully successful Paris it will each lead to bully results. If I tin travel backmost pinch 1 golden I would beryllium complete nan moon."

Full squad

Men: James Ball piloted by Steffan Lloyd, Steve Bate piloted by Chris Latham, Neil Fachie piloted by Matt Rotherham, Matt Robertson, Fin Graham, Jaco van Gass, Ben Watson, Archie Atkinson, Jody Cundy, Blaine Hunt

Women: Lora Fachie piloted by Corrine Hall, Lizzi Jordan piloted by Danni Khan, Sophie Unwin piloted by Jenny Holl, Fran Brown, Daphne Schrager, Kadeena Cox, Sarah Storey