Sad the Olympics are over? Don’t worry, sports fans — amazing athletic feats are still to come in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, running Wednesday, Aug. 28 to Sunday, Sept. 8, that will feature 549 events across 22 sports.
Cheer on these 10 Texas athletes representing Team USA, including two athletes from North Texas. Plus, keep reading to learn about legendary Lone Star State Paralympian Randy Snow.
Korban Best is speeding toward the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Photo courtesy of @best_korban
Korban Best | Para Track and Field
The 21-year-old sprinter is from Southlake and played football for Carroll Senior High School before heading to Arizona State University. He will compete in the 100 Men’s T-47 and Universal 4x100 relay, starting Friday, Aug. 30
John Joss | Para Shooting
The three-time Paralympian from Corsicana has served in the US Army since 2004 and is a member of the US Army Marksmanship Unit. This national record-holder and Purple Heart recipient will compete starting Friday, Aug. 30.
Fabian Romo | Wheelchair Basketball
The Houstonian helped the UTA Movin’ Mavs take home a national championship in 2017 before going on to play professional wheelchair basketball in Spain. Catch him with the rest of the Team USA Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team take on Spain on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Jeremy Campbell | Para Track and Field
From Perrytown — up in the Texas Panhandle — this dicsus thrower is working to earn his fifth gold medal in his fifth Paralympic Games. He made history as the first Paralympian to throw over 60 meters. Watch the competition starting Thursday, Sept. 5.
Jordan White | Para Archery
From Cedar Park, White is the youngest US archer to qualify for the Paralympics at just 15 years old. Competitions begin Thursday, Aug. 29.
Kelly Elminger | Paratriathalon
The two-time Paralympian is originally from Ohio but considers San Antonio her home town. She also served 10 years as a US Army medic. Catch Elminger competing starting Sunday, Sept. 1.
Lizzi Smith | Para Swimming
Originally from Indiana, Smith trains and coaches at Western Hills Athletic Club in Austin. The 28-year-old swimmer will compete starting Thursday, Aug. 29.
Jason Tabansky | Para Archery
Representing Brownsville, Tabansky served 15 years in the US Army as a helicopter crewmember and instructor. He competes starting Thursday, Aug. 29.
Jazmin Almlie-Ryan | Para Shooting
The three-time Paralympian from Katy will compete in three shooting events — Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing, Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone, and Falling Target Rifle — starting Friday, Aug. 30.
Kaitlyn Eaton | Wheelchair Basketball
The two-time Paralympian from Houston took home a bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games. The Team USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team will take to the court on Friday, Aug. 30 against Germany.
Randy Snow played a wheelchair tennis exhibition match at Tarrant County College’s Northeast Campus in April 1985.
Photo courtesy of UTA Libraries/Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection
A Lone Star State Paralympic legend
The first Paralympian to be inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame was Randy Snow from Terrell. Representing both the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at Arlington, Snow earned six Paralympic medals from 1984 Los Angeles, 1992 Barcelona, and 1996 Atlanta, where he took up the Torch Relay from President Bill Clinton.
The best part — he medaled in three different sports. Guess which sport he did not play. Check out the photo above for a hint.
