The British Paralympic Association (BPA) today announced the six athletes selected to represent ParalympicsGB at Rio 2016 in the sport of paracanoe, set to feature on the Paralympic programme for the very first time this September.

While paracanoe is a new Paralympic sport, three of the selected athletes have already represented their country at a Games; Jeanette Chippington competed as a swimmer at five consecutive Paralympic Games from Seoul 88 to Atlanta 96, while Emma Wiggs and Nick Beighton made their Games debut at London 2012 in the sports of sitting volleyball and rowing.

Anne Dickens, Ian Marsden and Rob Oliver have been selected for their first Paralympic Games after joining the British Canoeing Performance Programme, which was first established in 2011 and has since gone from strength to strength.

All six selected athletes also claimed the title of National Champion in their respective classifications during trials at the National Sprint Regatta earlier this month.

Jeanette Chippington, who won 12 Paralympic medals during her swimming career before returning to international competition in a new sport, said:

“I still cannot quite believe that after 12 years of being retired from competitive sport I will be representing my country for the sixth time at the Paralympic Games.  I feel very honoured and excited to have made the team.  For four years I have trained so hard and made many sacrifices, but most importantly I have enjoyed the journey.”

Nick Beighton, who made the transition from rowing to paracanoe as recently as 2014, said: "It is a real honour to be able to represent my country again.

“It has been a hard journey to this point and it wouldn't have been possible without the support of my partner and son. I can't wait to experience another Paralympic Games, and be involved in showcasing such a great sport for the first time at a Paralympics.

“The support from the British public at London 2012 was incredible. I hope that they will supercharge the team to success in Rio and that we can make people back at home proud.”

Penny Briscoe MBE, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, said:

“I’m so pleased to welcome these athletes to the team today. It’s exciting to see such strength and ambition from all six athletes as their sport prepares to make its debut in Rio, and I’m sure the athletes will mark it in style with some incredible performances in Lagoa.”

“Huge credit must go to Steve Harris and the team at British Canoeing for the development of the para-canoe programme which was formally established in 2011 and has successfully identified and supported these talented athletes through an intense selection process. It’s a privilege to add their names to the team-sheet today.”

Steve Harris, Para-canoe Programme Manager, said:

“It has been a hugely exciting journey over the last five years to get to this point where we are announcing our team for the Paralympic Games in Rio, where para-canoe will make its debut. We have a hugely talented and committed group of athletes, backed 100% by our coaches and support staff as well as the National Lottery through UK Sport. I am confident we will go to Rio as one of the very best prepared teams in the world and we will do everything possible to deliver and contribute to the success of ParalympicsGB."

Great Britain is currently one of only two countries to have qualified quota places in all six Paralympic events, with Australia the only other nation to have completed a full house. As the strength and depth of competition has increased internationally in recent years, GB has succeeded in bringing the silverware home, once again topping the medal table at the recent 2016 ICF Paracanoe World Championships in Duisburg, Germany, with a total of six medals across the classes (two gold, two silver and two bronze).

Emma Wiggs, a three-time world champion in the KL2 class said: “I’m so excited, proud and honoured to be part of ParalympicsGB for Rio 2016. Rio is the first time that Paracanoe will feature in the Paralympic Games and I’m thrilled to be part of showcasing a sport that is so fast, dynamic and powerful to watch.

“I’ve been on an incredible journey since London 2012 and I feel privileged to be part of such a talented and world class squad. The incredible support I have received from British Canoeing, UK Sport and the National Lottery has allowed me to train six days a week for this moment and I’m ready to be part of ParalympicsGB out in Rio. Today’s announcement is the best Birthday present ever!”

Surrey’s Anne Dickins, the current world champion at KL3, who was a volunteer at London 2012 and inspired to take up the sport added: “I still can't quite believe it! I have known all along that learning to paddle a boat and getting to Rio was a bold, slightly crazy and unlikely dream, so to see hard work and lots of support from so many people turn into Rio selection feels simply amazing.

“I can't wait to actually live that dream - and hopefully also inspire a few others to know that when life closes one door, there is another often unexpected one you can open.” 

Ian Marsden who qualified his KL1 quota place last month in Duisburg said: “Being selected for the Rio Paralympics is the fulfilment of a life-long dream. Ever since I was at school I talked about representing Great Britain at the Games and now this day has come. I will give this once in a lifetime opportunity everything I have, to and make my country, friends and family proud of me.”

Former footballer and the 2015 European Champion in KL3, Rob Oliver said: “Ever since I first attended a Paralympic multi-sport trials day back in 2011 I knew that it was something special and I wanted to be a part of it. Those feelings only got stronger when I was selected to represent Paracanoe at London 2012 as part of the Paralympic Inspiration Programme.

“Once I saw all of the amazing athletes performing in their different events at this elite level I knew how special it would be to be part of it. Now I have been selected to represent my country at this level I am bursting with pride and am relishing the opportunity to do my country, my friends and my family proud!”

Today’s announcement brings the number of selected athletes to a total of 111, across a total of ten sports.

Selected athletes:

Jeanette Chippington (KL1) – Longridge Canoe Club
Emma Wiggs (KL2) - Independent
Anne Dickens (KL3) – Wey Kayak Club

Ian Marsden (KL1) – Trentham Canoe Club
Nick Beighton (KL2) - Shropshire Paddlesports

Rob Oliver (KL3) – Solihull Canoe Club

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