Who is Iona Winnifrith? Meet the youngest Paralympic swimmer looking to take gold at just 13-year-old
SHE may have only just hit her teenage years, but there is no stopping Iona Winnifrith.
The swimmer is now hoping to scoop a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Who is Iona Winnifrith?
Iona Winnifrith was born on April 10, 2011, and at 13-years-old is taking part in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The swimmer has a form of skeletal dysplasia which causes short statue due to short limbs.
Iona was first introduced to swimming when watching her brothers train at Tonbridge SC.
The club invited her to join their team at the age of five.
By the time Iona was old enough to compete, she was already making headline news,
At the 2024 European Championships, she came into the spotlight when she won three gold in the SB7 100m Breaststroke, SM7 200m Individual Medley, and SM7 200m Individual Medley,
She also went on to win bronze in the S7 50m Butterfly.
At the same time Iona also broke European record after she clocked up a time of 3:09.76 in the 200m.
What sport does Iona Winnifrith compete in?
Iona is part of the Team GB swimming squad at the Paralympic Games 2024.
The teenage star is the youngest member of the team, and follows in the footsteps of Ellie Simmonds who was the same age when she competed in Beijing in 2008.
Iona will be seen competing in three events – the 100m Breaststroke (SB7), 50m Butterfly (S7), and 200m Individual Medley (SM7).
She revealed how she is hoping to emulate the success of her idol Ellie, and take home a gold medal at Paris 2024.
Speaking to swimming.org, she said: “Well I remember the Rio Olympics, but not really the Paralympics Games so it was really Tokyo when I first saw all the Paralympians.
“People like Maisie Summers-Newton, and I’ve always looked up to Ellie Simmons with her being 13 as well when she was went to her first games.
A medal would be incredible and potentially gold.
Iona Winnifrith
“She’s also got a similar disability to me, so her and Maisie are people I particularly look up to.
“It was just last year when I realised that I had a chance to make it to Paris.
“A medal would be incredible and potentially gold.”
When will Iona Winnifrith compete in the 2024 Paralympics?
The swimmer will to the pool for her first race, 100m Breaststroke (SB7), on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
After this Iona’s next race will be the 50m Butterfly (S7) which is on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
That same day she will compete in the 200m Individual Medley (SM7).
All Paralympic events can be watched on Channel 4 every day whilst the Games are on, with coverage starting from 7am each day.
The Last Leg In Paris is also airing each night – except Tuesday, September 3, 2024 – from 9.45pm until 10.30pm.
The show is hosted as normal by Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe, and Alex Brooker.
US spectators can tune in on either Peacock or NBC Olympics platforms.
All of the events taking place at the Paris 2024 Paralympics
Each sport is broken down into subcategories giving athletes the chance to compete on equal terms with those who have a similar impairment.
Here are the events:
- Para archery
- Para athletics
- Para badminton
- Blind football
- Boccia
- Para canoe
- Para cycling
- Para equestrian
- Goalball
- Para judo
- Para powerlifting
- Para rowing
- Shooting Para sport
- Sitting volleyball
- Para swimming
- Para table tennis
- Para taekwondo
- Para triathlon
- Wheelchair basketball
- Wheelchair fencing
- Wheelchair rugby
- Wheelchair tennis