Team Wandsworth have taken the top spot in the Para Games at the London Youth Games 2024, showcasing exceptional talent and sportsmanship.
The Wandsworth pan-disability team, comprising of 76 athletes from ten Wandsworth schools, including Ark Bolingbroke, Burntwood, and Linden Lodge, showcased exceptional performances and emerged victorious, winning the Para Games Cup for 2024. Competing across five sports—Boccia, Inclusive Basketball, Para Swimming, Para Athletics, and Para Football—Wandsworth’s para-athletes displayed immense determination and skill.
The Girls’ Para Athletics team secured 1st place, demonstrating their outstanding athletic abilities, while the boys finished 5th, showing their resilience and effort.
In Para Swimming, the Girls’ Team achieved 2nd place, reflecting their strong swimming capabilities, while the boys’ team came 1st, highlighting their dominance in the pool.
The Inclusive Basketball team placed 1st in the first ever LYG inclusive basketball competition, setting a standard for competitions to come. Team Wandsworth’s para-athletes earned 28 gold, 7 silver, and 3 bronze medals in individual events, contributing significantly to their overall victory.
Nieca, a vision-impaired athlete, was commended for her outstanding performance in the Vortex Howler throw event, achieving the third-longest distance across all impairment groups and genders, demonstrating her remarkable talent and determination.
Enable, committed to inclusive sport and activity, supports disabled young people through various programmes, ranging from low-cost recreational provisions running 48 weeks through the year, to competitive sport opportunities and funding for local organisations. Wandsworth’s commitment to access and inclusivity is evident in its diverse offerings.
An awards ceremony for Wandsworth’s 2024 Para Games athletes will be held at the Wandsworth Paralympic Festival on 28th August at Tooting Bec Athletics Track. The event, open to both those with disabilities and the general public, and free to attend aims to raise awareness of inclusive and Paralympic sport. Attendees can participate in some of the sports showcased by the athletes. Bookings can be made via Eventbrite. Wandsworth Paralympic Festival Tickets, Wed, Aug 28, 2024 at 2:00 PM | Eventbrite
Over in the mainstream sport at the London Youth Games, with over 570 athletes signed up to participate in trials and training sessions, the team showcased their ability across various sports.
The Wandsworth team, competed against 33 boroughs and secured 13th place overall with 780 Jubilee points. Athletes underwent open trial sessions to earn a spot on Team Wandsworth’s training squads and then trained for 6-8 weeks before the final selections.
The Girls’ U15 Football team clinched 1st place, demonstrating their superior skills and teamwork, while the U13 team finished 17th, showing great promise for future competitions.
The Male Volleyball team secured 2nd place, showcasing their strength and coordination, and the Male Hockey team also earned 2nd place, highlighting their strategic play and determination.
The Netball team finished in 3rd place, reflecting their strong performance and competitive spirit.
The Squash team achieved a remarkable 1st place, underscoring their exceptional talent and dedication.
“I’ve never done competitive cycling before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect but the Wandsworth Team Manager explained everything. I had a practise circuit first so when the event came, I was very excited. It was amazing to cycle at an Olympic venue and there was music blasting out that made it feel electric! I hope I get selected to do it again next year” – Henry – Team Wandsworth Road Cycling Athlete
Team Wandsworth’s performance at the London Youth Games 2024 is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and talent of its athletes and managers. The borough looks forward to building on this year’s success. Enables Sport and Activity Development Team are currently undergoing preparations to host Wandsworth Schools Cross Country Championships in October 2024, in which the top athletes across all schools in Wandsworth will be selected to compete in next year’s games.
