Paralympic Games: five Manchester-based stars to watch out for in Tokyo

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games begin on Tuesday and there could be plenty of medals destined for the city of Manchester by the end of August.

That’s because 13 of the athletes competing for Team Great Britain are based in Manchester.

We’ve highlighted five stars from the city who could return from Japan with medals.

Jody Cundy

The cyclist is heading to his seventh Paralympics and first competed for Team GB in the Atlanta 1996 Games. Cundy has won 10 medals at the Paralympics, including two golds in Rio de Janeiro. The 42-year-old began his career in swimming before transitioning into cycling at 26.

Dame Sarah Storey

One of the seven cyclists at Tokyo who are based in Manchester and take advantage of the city’s excellent facilities, Dame Sarah heads to the Games with 25 medals already to her name.

She is the most-decorated British female Paralympian ever and could overtake Mike Kenny’s British record of 16 golds. Dame Sarah was born and raised in Eccles and first competed at the Paralympics in 1992.

Hannah Russell

After collecting three medals in Rio, Hannah will be out for more glory in Japan. The visually impared 25-year-old began swimming at the age of four and is the daughter of former rugby player Carson Russell.

Amy Truesdale

The Taekwondo world No.1 will compete in the women’s +58kg category. This is Amy’s first Games and the 26-year-old has previously won World Championship titles in 2014 and 2017. Amy will partner Beth Munroe, another Manchester-based athlete, in Toyko.

Gemma Collis-McCann

This is Gemma’s third Paralympics and she’ll be hopeful of gaining her first medals in Japan. Gemma competes at wheelchair fencing and in 2018 created history at the Montreal World Cup by becoming the first British women to win an event, and claimed the gold medal. She is also vice-chair of the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation’s Wheelchair Fencing Athletes’ Council.

Full list of Manchester-based athletes competing at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Cycling

• Jody Cundy
• Adam Duggleby
• Neil Fachie
• Lewis Stewart
• Matt Rotherham
• Dame Sarah Storey
• Jaco van Gass

Swimming

• Hannah Russell

Taekwondo

• Beth Munro
• Amy Truesdale

Wheelchair basketball

• Robyn Love
• Laurie Williams

Wheelchair fencing

• Gemma Collis-McCann

Elsewhere in Greater Manchester

It’s not just in the city of Manchester where our local stars are based, with athlete Libby Clegg of Stockport set to compete in her fourth Games. Libby also starred in ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2020. Meanwhile, Bolton have two representatives in Tokyo, with Ola Abidogun competing in athletics and Ayaz Bhuta featuring in wheelchair rugby.