Meet the top teens competing at Paris 2024 Paralympics from Iona Winnifrith to Victor dos Santos Almeida

The teen competitors of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 were some of the most exciting athletes to follow—from Sky Brown to Summer Mcintosh—and the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are no different.

As the Paralympics get underway, we shine the light on the teenage competitors who are set to make their Paralympic debut from 13-year-old Iona Winnifrith competing in Para swimming, to 18-year-old Wheelchair tennis sensation, Oda Tokito.

Despite their youth, these athletes are at the top of their sports. Read on the find out more about these ambitious teens before they make headlines at Paris 2024.

• Paris 2024 Paralympics: Preview, full schedule, and how to watch live action

Jordan White aims for a performance he can be proud of in Team USA Para Archery

At age 15, Jordan White is the youngest athlete on Team USA. Hailing from Central Texas, White got his start in Para archery four years ago and has earned six national records in that time.

White has undergone over 20 surgeries addressing issues arising from his congenital femoral deficiency, which White clarifies for KVUE, saying, “it’s pretty much a fancy way of saying that I have one leg shorter than the other.”

He attributes his success at Para archery to the challenges he’s endured: “Without that strength that's come along with all of my surgeries, I wouldn't be the person I am today," White said. "I wouldn't be the archer I am today. I wouldn't be as resilient as an archer, both mentally and emotionally."

White finished with a personal best score of 580 in the individual recurve open ranking round held on Thursday, 29 August. He competes again on Wednesday, 4 September, in the individual recurve open eliminations.

Isaiah Benjamin ready to compete among the best at the Stade de France

Fifteen-year-old Isaiah Benjamin from the U.S. Virgin Islands grew up watching the Olympics, and now he is fulfilling his dream of competing in his first Paralympics.

The St. Croix native is competing in men’s high jump T47. The Para track and field athlete is only the fourth Paralympian to represent the Virgin Islands and is the lone representative at Paris 2024.

Benjamin is rising to the challenge of being the only medal hope at these Paralympic Games. He told Virgin Islands Daily News, “My goal is [1.9 meters], but I really just want to do the best I can and try my hardest."

"This, to me, is something that I have never done … and I can go on to college and do something like this, setting world records. That’s what I’m really aiming for, because I believe I can get it," added Benjamin.

Great Britain’s Bly Twomey on track to become a multi-medallist in Para table tennis

Bly Twomey, the 14-year-old Para table tennis star from Brighton, Great Britain is already making waves in Paris. Twomey comes into these Paralympic Games ranked fourth in the class 7 world rankings—a remarkable feat as she only debuted on the table tennis scene in early 2023.

On the first day of the Games, Twomey alongside Fliss Pickard won bronze in doubles table tennis. Twomey said of her bronze medal win, "When I first started table tennis, I didn't think I'd be at the Paris Paralympics. I'm really proud to be here, and with Felicity (Pickard), it's just amazing."

Twomey’s Paralympics continues with the Women's Singles WS7 round of 16 on Monday, 2 September.

Team USA’s Maylee Phelps ready to win in wheelchair tennis Paralympic debut

Team USA’s Maylee Phelps is competing in her first Paralympic Games, but she is no stranger to competition. The 17-year-old from Portland, Oregon started competing nationally at the age of twelve and soon found herself traveling worldwide to compete in tournaments and competitions.

Phelps’ competition highlight to date was at the 2022 Inaugural U.S. Open Juniors Wheelchair Championships where she won her first Junior girls doubles champion title at a grand slam. She has since gone on to win both the singles and doubles championships at the 2023 Wheelchair Junior Masters and was named the 2023 ITF Junior wheelchair player of the year.

Phelps will be competing in women’s doubles and singles wheelchair tennis with first rounds beginning 30 and 31 August.

Brazil’s Victor dos Santos Almeida, inspired by Daniel Dias, hopes to become world’s greatest Para swimmer

At 16-years-old, Victor dos Santos Almeida aka "Vitinho", is the youngest Brazilian Paralympian at Paris 2024. He’s the Para-Pan American Champion and record holder in the Para swimming 100m backstroke— Vitinho enters his inaugural Paralympic Games with gold on his mind.

If he wins a medal, Vitinho told Globo.com that he promises to celebrate like soccer star Ronaldo. Although he says his biggest hero has always been Daniel Dias—the greatest Brazilian swimming medalist in the history of the Paralympics who retired after Tokyo 2020.

“I've always loved sports, and swimming has always been a part of my life. I want to make a living from sports, from swimming. […] It's always been my goal to evolve every day and as quickly as possible. And my biggest goal is definitely to become the greatest and the best. I'm still on that path, but I've taken a step towards my dream.”

Vitinho will compete in 100m backstroke S9 on Tuesday, 3 September in the Paris La Défense Arena.

Great Britain Para swimmer Iona Winnifrith is the youngest Paralympian at age 13

At age 13, Great Britain’s Iona Winnifrith will make her highly-anticipated Paralympic debut on Saturday, 31 August, swimming in the 200m individual medley SM7. Winnifrith made her debut for Great Britain at the 2024 European Championships where she became a double European champion, she also set a new British and European record in the SB7 100m breaststroke on the opening day of competition.

Winnifrith’s hero is Great Britain's Para swimming sensation Ellie Simmonds who made history at 13-years-old at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, winning two golds in the 100m and 400m freestyle S6. Winnifrith is hoping to follow Simmonds lead and medal at these Paralympics, and with three events on the docket and her breaststroke world record, she is in position to do just that.

Look for Winnifrith competing in the 200m individual medley SM7 on Saturday, 31 August; in the 100m breaststroke SB7 on Thursday, 5 September; and in the 50m butterfly S7 on Saturday, 7 September.

Grand Slam champion Oda Tokito set for much-anticipated Paralympic wheelchair tennis debut

18-year-old wheelchair tennis sensation, Oda Tokito comes into his first Paralympic Games as the world number-two ranked wheelchair tennis athlete with four Grand Slam singles titles under his belt. Paris 2024 marks Oda’s Paralympic debut, he will be competing in both men’s singles and doubles, where he is a favorite to win gold.

Oda has had the honor of competing against his hero, wheelchair tennis champion Shingo Kunieda, who retired in January 2023. It was Kunieda who inspired Oda to start playing at age 10. Not long after, Oda became the youngest ever boys’ world number one in the junior wheelchair tennis rankings.

At the French Open held in June, Oda shared his excitement for competing at Paris 2024, with the message ‘je t’aime Paris’ (I love you, Paris) on his racket bag. “I love this city, so I wanted to show my feeling,” said Oda ahead of winning his fourth title.