Kiwis to watch at the 2024 Paris Paralympics

Kiwi sports fans can't take their eyes off Paris just yet as 25 athletes prepare to capture New Zealand's imagination at the 2024 Paralympics Games.

1News Sport Reporter Victor Waters, who will be reporting on the Games from the French capital, highlights five key reasons to watch all the action on TVNZ.

Watch the Paralympics live on TVNZ+ and TVNZ1 from August 29-September 9.

Shooting Para sport veteran Michael Johnson is preparing for a record-equalling sixth Paralympic Games appearance for New Zealand.

Johnson, who first represented Aotearoa at the 2004 Games in Athens winning gold with a world record score in the R4 Mixed Air Rifle Standing SH2 event, is set to move level with Graham Condon.

He went on to claim two bronze medals at the 2008 and 2012 games.

The three-time Paralympic medallist arrives in Paris in good form, coming second in the R4 Air Rifle Standing event at this year’s World Shooting Para Sport New Delhi World Cup.

Johnson has also turned his hand at coaching and will mentor teammate Neelam O’Neil who makes her Paralympics debut in the R3 mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 and the P2 Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1.

Following the success of New Zealand’s cyclists at the Olympics, our Para cyclists are showing plenty of promise ahead of Paris.

Devon Briggs makes his Paralympics debut fresh from his gold in the Men’s C3 1000m Time Trial in a world record time at the 2024 Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Rio.

It was in Brazil where Nicole Murray also shone this year, bagging a gold medal in the first ever C5 Women’s Elimination Race, silver medals in the C5 Omnium and Individual Pursuit and bronze medals in the C5 500m Time Trial and Scratch Race.

The medal hopes don’t end there with 2023 C4 Omnium World Champion Anna Taylor in the mix along with debutant Ben Westenberg. Hand cyclist Rory Mead completes a formidable Kiwi Para cycling team.

The silver fern will feature in Paris at events rarely seen at a Paralympics.

Wojtek Czyz will be the first New Zealander to compete in the sport of Para badminton at a Games after only taking up the sport three years ago.

Czyz is competing at his fourth Paralympics after representing the country of his birth Germany as a sprinter and long jumper, claiming seven medals.

New Zealand will also have its first Table Tennis representative at a Paralympics in nearly 50 years when Matt Britz takes part in the Men’s Singles Class 7 event.

It’s also been a long time between drinks for Para equestrian with Louise Duncan the first New Zealander in 12 years to take part.

New Zealand’s track and field Paralympians will hit the Stade de France with plenty of momentum after a glorious World Championships that saw them claim eight medals, including two golds.

Flag bearer Anna Grimaldi is aiming for a three-peat of gold medals in the women’s long jump T47 after Paralympic titles in Rio and Tokyo.

Sprinter Danielle Aitchison is also a strong medal hope for New Zealand, fresh from her world record in the 200m T36 at this year’s World Champs in Kobe. She takes part in the 100m T36 event too.

Will Stedman also enjoyed a successful World Championships this year, winning gold and silver in the 400m T36 and long jump T36 respectively.

Holly Robinson will attempt to defend her Javelin F46 Paralympic title in Paris while also trying her hand at a new discipline in the Women’s Shot Put F46.

Cameron Leslie is back at a Paralympics, motivated as ever after missing the Covid-impacted 2020 Tokyo games.

Ahead of his fourth Paralympics, Leslie will be New Zealand’s other Flag Bearer along with Grimaldi and arrives in Paris as one of the team’s leaders.

Leslie has three Paralympic gold medals and could add more to his trophy cabinet in Paris, competing in four different Swimming events in the S4 category (the most events of any NZ Paralympian at the 2024 Games along with Para cyclists Devon Briggs and Nicole Murray).

Wheelchair Rugby would have been a fifth event, however Leslie and his Wheel Blacks team fell short of qualification.

Watch the Paralympics live on TVNZ+ and TVNZ1 from August 29-September 9.

Follow Victor's reports on Breakfast, 1News at 6pm and 1News.co.nz throughout the Games.