Many athletes train their whole lives to get to the world stage, but for some, that achievement comes sooner than you might think. Like the youngest Olympic athletes in history, the Paralympics are full of athletes still in their middle school years, proving that age doesn't rein in talent.
The 2024 Paralympics run from August 28 to September 8, when the world's top and youngest Paralympians will compete in Paris for gold in 24 sports. These are athletes at the pinnacle of their sport, making their debut while balancing school, countless hours of training, and devotion to excellence in their field—while competing with various disabilities.
Here's a look at some of the youngest Paralympians in history.
Natalia Partyka, 11
First picking up the table tennis paddle when she was seven, Natalia Partyka's stellar Paralympic career spanned from 2000 to 2016. At the age of 11, when most kids are focused on school, she boarded a plane to Sydney in 2000 with her Polish table tennis teammates and became the youngest Paralympic athlete in history. In 2004, she became the youngest ever table tennis player to win a Paralympics gold medal. The star athlete has competed at the Olympic Games, too. The now six-time gold medalist made further history by competing at both Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
“In Tokyo I lost in the semi-finals (women’s singles class 10). Because of my ambition I am bothered about that. I want to make up for it,” she said.
Joanne Elizabeth Rout, 12
Rout competed in the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, becoming the youngest member of Team Great Britain at just 12 years old. The star swimmer went on to win two Gold and three Silver medals and she's still the youngest British Gold Medal winning Paralympian.
Eleanor May Simmonds, 13
The British Paralympian swimmer came to national attention when she competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, winning two gold medals for Great Britain. She was the youngest member of the team, at the age of 13.
Want to watch the 2024 Paralympics? Here's our guide on where to catch the Games.
Ben Tudhope, 14
At 14, the Australian was the youngest competitor at Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, competing in Para snowboard cross. The three-time Paralympic snowboarder took home bronze at the Beijing Games in 2022. “I never thought I would be in this moment today and look where I am,” Tudhope said after earning the bronze.
Husnah Kukundakwe, 14
Aiming to become Uganda’s first female Paralympic swimming medallist, at just 14 Kukundakwe was the youngest Paralympian at the Tokyo Games. Kukundakwe holds the distinction of being the first Ugandan to ever compete in the Singapore 2019 World Para-swimming World Series at the age of 12.
Elina Stary, 15
Austria’s Para alpine skiing prospect Elina Stary was, at 15 years old, the youngest athlete at the Beijing Games in 2022. Stary finished fourth and sixth in the slalom and giant slalom at Beijing.
Keegan Knott, 16
Knott represented Team USA internationally for the first time two years ago at the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. With her birthday on July 11, Knott was just 15 when she achieved her spot on Team USA at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials in June in Minneapolis, becoming the youngest member of Team USA.
Ezra Frech, 16
The Los Angeles native is the second-youngest member of Team USA, and first showcased his skills on the world stage at the 2019 World Para Athletics Junior Championships with a gold medal in the high jump and bronze medals in the 100-meter dash and long jump.
