PARIS – The 17th Paralympic Summer Games take place in Paris, France with a record 168 delegations participating in the games. The festivities begin with the opening ceremony on August 28th. Competition starts the following morning.
The United States sends 225 athletes to the summer games, including 16 who have served in the United States military at some point. Read on for information on the current and former service member taking part in the competition.
Jorge Salazar: Basketball
Salazar is a retired U.S. Marine Corps corporal who started playing Wheelchair basketball in 2013. The former corporal plays for Wolf Pack Wheelchair Basketball, based in San Diego, a team primarily consisting of current and former member of the U.S. military.
Classification: 3.5
Competing in: Competing in: Wheelchair Basketball (Aug. 29-Sep. 7)
Jason Tabansky: Archery
Tabansky was a part of the U.S. Army for 15 years and retired at 32 as a staff sergeant. The Para archer was deployed in both Afghanistan and Iraq during his time in the Army. Tabansky was a late call up to the 2024 games, after Australia’s Christopher Davis was forced to withdraw due to injury. The Texas native serves on the board of directors with USA Archery as a Para archery committee member.
Classification: W1
Competing in: Men’s Individual W1 Archery (Aug. 29), Mixed Team W1 Ranking Round (Aug. 29)
Dennis Connors: Cycling
Connors was in the U.S. Marine Corps for a decade and served three combat tours. He started cycling in 2016 with Project Hero — a non profit which focuses on veteran mental health — and started in the sport thanks to US Para cyclist and fellow veteran Shawn Morelli. At the 2023 ParaPan American Games, he placed first in the Men’s T1-2 Road Race and is a 3 time UCI Para cycling World Championship medalist.
Classification: T2
Competing in: Men’s T1-2 Individual Time Trial (Sep. 4), Men’s T1-2 Road Race (Sep. 7)
Shawn Morelli: Cycling
Morelli was an engineer officer in the U.S. Army until she medically retired in 2012. She began her competitive Para cycling career in 2010 at the warrior games and hasn’t looked back since. The veteran earned gold medals at both Tokyo and Rio and has 4 medals overall.
Classification: C4
Competing in: Women’s C4-5 500m Time Trial Para Cycling Track (Aug. 29), Women’s C4 3000m Individual Pursuit (Aug. 30), Women’s C4 Individual Time Trial (Sep. 4), Women’s C4-5 Road Race (Sep. 6).
Jataya Taylor: Fencing
Taylor was a part of the U.S. Marine Corps before injuries led to the amputation of her left leg. Taylor’s relatively new to the wheelchair fencing game; she only discovered it 2 years ago. The Colorado native competed at the world championships in Terni, Italy in 2023.
Classification: A
Competing in: Women’s Foil Category A (Sep. 4), Women’s Foil Team (Sep. 5), Women’s Épée Category (Sep. 6), Women’s Épée Team (Sep. 7)
Garrett Schoonover: Fencing
A U.S. Army veteran who lost his leg after a major motorcycle accident in Los Angeles. His friend Mason introduced him to wheelchair fencing in 2021. In his last major competition, Schoonover brought home the gold in the 2024 Americas Zonal Championship in Brazil. Schoonover a masters degree from UCLA in vocal performance.
Classification: A
Competing in: Men’s Sabre Category A (Sep. 3), Men’s Foil Category A (Sep. 4), Men’s Foil Team (Sep. 5), Men’s Épée Category A (Sep. 6), Men’s Épée Team (Sep. 7).
Bobby Body: Powerlifting
After being born in an Army hospital and spending his early years in a military orphanage, Body joined the Army following 9/11. He lost his leg after his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb during a mission in Iraq. The powerlifter is a certified peer support specialist and counsels other veterans and amputees. The Michigan native scored gold at the 2023 Parapan American Games.
Classification: PWL
Competing in: Men’s up to 107kg (Sep. 8)
Mason Symons: Wheelchair Rugby
Symons discovered wheelchair rugby at a military appreciation and developmental camp after his service. The Pennsylvania native has also participated in weightlifting, wheelchair slalom, table tennis and shooting at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. Symons was a part of the U.S. wheelchair rugby squad which took home gold at the 2023 Parapan American Games.
Classification: 2.0
Competing in: Open Team Tournament (Aug. 29-Sep. 2)
John Joss: Shooting
Joss is a sergeant in the U.S. Army and is a part of its marksmanship unit. A service member since 2004, Joss is the current national record holder in the R6-Mixed 50m Free Rifle Prone SH1. This is marksman’s third Paralympic games.
Classification: SH1
Competing in: R6 -Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1 (Sep. 5)
Kevin Nguyen: Shooting
Nguyen is an Army staff sergeant who had his leg amputated after stepping on and IEP in Afghanistan. The Californian has coached the Paralympic Division of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and returned to service after his injury. Nguyen is competing in his 2nd Paralympic games.
Classification: SH1
Competing in: Competing in: R6 -Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1 (Sep. 5)
Marco DeLaRosa: Shooting
While Trying to stop a robbery outside of Camp Pendleton in 1993, the former Marine corporal was shot in the back causing paralysis in his lower half. In 2017 DeLaRosa received the Spirit of the Games Award from the Paralyzed Veterans of America. This will be his second Paralympics after competing in Rio in the summer of 2016.
Classification: SH1
Competing in: P1 – Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1 (Aug. 30), P3 – Mixed 25m Pistol SH1 (Sep. 2)
Elizabeth Marks: Swimming
Marks comes from a military family and joined the Army shortly after turning 17 and worked as a combat medic. While recovering from bilateral hip injuries and aiming to be found “fit for duty,” she discovered a prowess in swimming. Marks received the Pat Tillman award at the 2016 ESPYs after winning 4 medals at the Invictus Games.
Classification: S6
Competing in: Women’s 50m Freestyle – S6 (Aug. 29), Women’s 200m Individual Medley – SM6 (Aug 30.), Women’s 50m Butterfly – (Sep 3.) S6 Women’s 100m Freestyle – S7 (Sep. 4), Women’s 100m Backstroke – S6 (Sep. 7).
Eric McElvenny: Triathlon
McElvenny was deployed three times as a Marine. On his final tour, he was wounded after stepping on an improvised exploding device, leading to the amputation of his right leg below the knee. Despite the injury, McElvenny made a promise to himself to compete in an IRONMAN Triathlon, fulfilling his goal in 2013. McElvenny is competing in his second Paralympic games.
Classification: PTS4
Competing in: Men’s PTS4 Triathlon (Sep. 1)
Howard Sanborn: Triathlon
Sanborn served in the Army for 15 years and began competing in triathlon events while serving. In September 2012, Sanborn was cycling when a distracted driver struck him from behind, breaking his back and paralyzing him from the waist down. However, just seven months after his injury, Sanborn was competing in triathlons again. Sanborn is competing in his first Paralympic games.
Classification: PTWC1
Competing in: Men’s PTWC Triathlon (Sep. 2)
Kelly Elmlinger: Triathlon
Elmlinger enlisted as an Army medic in college, eventually serving for ten years. In 2013, Elmlinger was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that led to her being fitted with a prosthetic leg. She became an avid runner after treatment, and it finds her competing in the Paralympic games for a second time after finishing seventh in the PTS5 Triathlon in Tokyo.
Classification: PTS4
Competing in: Women’s PTS4 Triathlon (Sep. 1)
Melissa Stockwell: Triathlon
Stockwell graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2002 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army’s transportation corps. In 2004, one month after being deployed to Iraq, Stockwell became the first United States female soldier to lose a limb in active combat when her vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. Stockwell was honored with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. In 2008, she became the first Iraq War veteran to qualify for the Paralympics in swimming. Stockwell is competing in her fourth overall Paralympic games, third in the triathlon.
Classification: PTS2
Competing in: Women’s PTS2 Triathlon (Sep. 1)
media.wheelchairsportsfederation.org 
Leave a comment