Strong representation from Para athletes with Cerebral Palsy

There’s plenty of talent among athletes who are training for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

By Paralympics New Zealand

Paralympian Danielle Aitchison is hoping to replicate her successes at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Photo: Joe Toth 

Paralympians with Cerebral Palsy have represented Aotearoa New Zealand with pride in several different sports, including Para swimming, Para athletics, and Boccia.

Current world champion Paralympic shot putter Lisa Adams is a famous example.

Have you considered taking part in a Para sport? Many Para sports have participation opportunities all around Aotearoa New Zealand.

Whether it’s for fun or you’re a fierce competitor, get inspired by Kiwi Paralympians and check out the sports featured here. 

Cerebral Palsy and the Paralympic Games

Cerebral Palsy is a common condition among Paralympians. 

The Paralympic Games began in 1960 for paraplegic war veterans, and athletes with Cerebral Palsy were first allowed to compete in the Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games in the Netherlands.

The first Cerebral Palsy-only sports of CP football and Boccia were added at the 1984 Paralympics.

The impairments caused by Cerebral Palsy, hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis, can make an athlete eligible to compete in 25 of the 28 Para sports currently contested at winter and summer Paralympic Games (the other three sports are exclusively for visually impaired athletes).

Different sports have different eligibility criteria – register with Paralympics New Zealand to find out which Para sports could be for you. 

Will athletes with Cerebral Palsy be at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games? 

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games take place in August and September, two weeks after the Olympic Games.

The action will be screened on TVNZ so everyone can follow the Kiwis as they give their all in Paris. 

New Zealand’s Paralympic Team will be selected over the coming months, and we’re really excited about the talent among the athletes who are training for Paris 2024.

Keep an eye out for these three sports and three Kiwi Para athletes:

The growing sport of Para triathlon

Introduced to the Paralympic Games in 2016, Para triathlon is a relatively new sport where athletes compete in three disciplines: swimming (750m), cycling (20km) and running (5km).

One such athlete is Kurt Peterson, pictured, a 35-year-old from Auckland, who is aiming to qualify in Para triathlon.

Kurt Peterson swims, cycles and runs as part of the Para triathlon events he competes in. Photo: Clarisse Henriques/Nuno Domingos

With a lofty ambition of being the first Paralympian triathlete to represent Aotearoa New Zealand, Kurt, a Cerebral Palsy Society member, is working hard to achieve his goal.

Explore the fascinating world of Boccia

Boccia is an indoor sport that involves throwing leather balls onto a small court and aiming to land the ball as close as possible to a white target ball.

Most Para athletes who play Boccia use wheelchairs to move around and have different techniques for throwing their balls. Some use ramps and sports assistants, while others throw independently.

The sport of Boccia was added to the Paralympics line up in 1984. Photo: Joe Toth

One of New Zealand’s rising stars in the sport is Troy Robertson from Northland. 

Troy, a member of the Cerebral Palsy Society, has already made a name for himself by winning a silver medal in the Rumbo al 2023 Boccia tournament in Chile.

Troy is thrilled at the prospect of competing in the Paralympic Games and describes it as “mind-blowing”.

Cerebral Palsy Society member Troy, and his ramp operator, Manaia Sanerivi.

If he does compete in Paris, he will be the first Kiwi Boccia player to do so since 2008.

Para athletics: a major Para sport in Aotearoa New Zealand

Para athletics includes a variety of track, road, and field events, such as races, jumps, and throws. 

Kiwi Paralympians excelled in this sport at the Tokyo 2020 games, earning seven medals.

It’s worth noting that five of the eight-strong Para athletics squad had Cerebral Palsy. 

Several Tokyo 2020 Paralympians, including Danielle Aitchison (#211), will be returning to compete in Paris 2024. 

At just 22 years old, Danielle has already earned a silver and bronze Paralympic medal.

In the 2023 World Championships, she won silver in the 100m and gold in the 200m, delivering “the race of her life”.

Danielle will be aiming to replicate her success at the upcoming Paralympic Games. 

For more information about Paralympics New Zealand go to www.paralympics.org.nz.

This article was originally published in the January to April 2024 edition of The Review magazine.

For more information:
Melanie Louden
Communications Manager
melanie@cpsociety.org.nz
Mobile: 022 087 819