| Npc: | USA |
| Npcname: | United States Paralympic Committee |
| Games: | Summer Paralympics |
| Year: | 2016 |
| Flagcaption: | Flag of the United States |
| Location: | Rio de Janeiro |
| Competitors: | 289 |
| Sports: | 20 |
| Flagbearer: | Allison Jones (opening),[1] Josh Brunais (closing)[2] |
| Rank: | 4 |
| Gold: | 40 |
| Silver: | 44 |
| Bronze: | 31 |
| Appearances: | auto |
The United States competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016. The first places the team qualified were for three athletes in sailing events. They also qualified athletes in archery, goalball, shooting, swimming, and wheelchair basketball.
The United States had a team of 267 sportspeople scheduled to compete in 20 different sports at the 2016 Games. The team was 17% larger than the one that compete at the 2012 Summer Paralympics. The USA qualified a team in each of the 8 different team sports at the Games, the first time this happened since the 2004 Summer Paralympics. Of the 267 sportspeople in Rio, 142 were participating at the Games another time, having already participated in a previous Games.[3]
The United States delegation included thirty veterans. The team had three active service members. Forty-three states and Washington DC were represented in Rio. The state with the greatest number of representatives was California, with 29. Michigan and Washington both sent 14 athletes.
To generate interest in the Games, the USOC organized US Paralympics’ Road to Rio Tour. This 10 tour involved nine stops around the United States and officially got underway on July 4, 2015.[4]
See main article: article and Archery at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
The United States qualified eight archers for the Rio Games following their performance at the 2015 World Archery Para Championships.[5]
|-|align=left|Jeff Fabry|align=left|Men's individual compound W1|596|11|
L 126-140|colspan=5|Did not advance|-|align=left|KJ Polish|align=left rowspan=3|Men's individual compound open|685|2|
W 143-129|
L 133-139|colspan=4|Did not advance|-|align=left|Andre Shelby|669|12|
W 143-131|
W 138-133|
W 142-141|
W 139-138|
W 144-143||-|align=left|Matt Stutzman|684|4|
W 142-129|
L 141-142|colspan=4|Did not advance|-|align=left|Eric Bennett|align=left rowspan=2|Men's individual recurve open|622|7|
W 7-3|
W 6-4|
L 0-6|colspan=3|Did not advance|-|align=left|Michael Lukow|577|23|
L 0-6|colspan=5|Did not advance|}
|-|align=left|Lia Coryell|align=left|Women's individual compound W1|535|7|colspan=2 |
L 115-134|colspan=3|Did not advance|-|align=left|Samantha Tucker|align=left|Women's individual compound open|597|17|
L 124-133|colspan=5|Did not advance|}
|-|align=left|Jeff Fabry
Lia Coryell|align=left|Team compound W1|1131|3|colspan=2 |
W 128-113|
L 125-137|
L 129-137|4|-|align=left|KJ Polish
Samantha Tucker|align=left|Team compound open|1282|9||
L 146-147|colspan=4|Did not advance|}
See main article: article and Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. With 62 athletes and 4 guides, the US athletics delegation is the largest in the country's history. Roderick Townsend is a high jumper on the American team. He was the tallest member of the United States delegation at 200.66cm (79inches). Grace Norman and Allysa Seely competed in both athletics and paratriathlon in Rio.[6]
| Athlete | Events | Heat | Semifinal | Final | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | |||
| Michael Brannigan | 1500m T20 | align=center colspan=4 | 3:51.73 | |||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | David Brown | 100m T11 | 11.35 | 5 Q | 11.04 | 1 Q | 10.99 PR | |
| 200m T11 | 23.45 | 7 Q | 23.32 | 6 | align=center colspan=2 | Did not advance | ||
| 400m T11 | 53.81 | 8 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Chaz Davis | 1500m T13 | align=center colspan=4 | 3:58.28 | 10 | |||
| 5000m T13 | align=center colspan=4 | 15:15.86 | 8 | |||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | AJ Digby | 200m T44 | 22.14 | 4 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 21.93 | 5 | |
| 400m T44 | 48.90 | 4 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 47.34 | 4 | |||
| align=left rowspan=5 | Joshua George | 400m T53 | 50.11 | 5 q | align=center colspan=2 | 50.80 | 7 | |
| 800m T53 | 1:37.87 | 3 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 1:41.23 | 5 | |||
| 1500m T54 | 3:06.43 | 11 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||||
| 5000m T54 | 10:20.36 | 3 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 11:02.64 | 5 | |||
| Marathon T54 | align=center colspan=4 | align=center colspan=2 | DNF | |||||
| Lex Gillette | 100m T11 | 11.68 | =9 q | 11.73 | 11 | align=center colspan=2 | Did not advance | |
| Ty Griffin | 400m T20 | align=center colspan=2 | DSQ | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Tyson Gunter | 100m T13 | 11.68 | 12 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||
| 400m T13 | 51.30 | 8 q | align=center colspan=2 | 50.36 | 7 | |||
| Jaquvis Hart | 400m T47 | align=center colspan=2 | DSQ | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | |||
| Erik Hightower | 400m T54 | 49.19 | 14 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Gianfranco Iannotta | 100m T52 | 17.20 | 1 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 17.17 | ||
| 400m T52 | 1:00.59 | 3 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 1:02.16 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Desmond Jackson | 100m T42 | 12.95 | 9 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||
| 200m T42 | align=center colspan=2 | DSQ | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Ayden Jent | 100m T35 | 13.28 | 5 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 13.13 | 5 | |
| 200m T35 | 28.81 | 8 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 27.45 | 5 | |||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Raymond Martin | 100m T52 | 17.27 | 2 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 17.25 | ||
| 400m T52 | 57.77 | 1 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 58.42 | ||||
| 1500m T52 | align=center colspan=4 | 3:40.53 | ||||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Aaron Pike | 1500m T54 | 3:09.85 | 19 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||
| Marathon T54 | align=center colspan=4 | 1:30:13 | 10 | |||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Markeith Price | 100m T13 | 11.23 PB | 10 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||
| 400m T13 | 50.20 | 7 q | align=center colspan=2 | 49.96 | 5 | |||
| David Prince | 200m T44 | 22.42 | 6 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 22.01 | 6 | ||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Austin Pruitt | 100m T34 | 17.34 | 10 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||
| 800m T34 | 1:46.38 | 4 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 1:45.55 | 6 | |||
| John Roberts | 100m T33 | align=center colspan=4 | 21.88 | 7 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Josh Roberts | 100m T52 | 18.41 | 7 q | align=center colspan=2 | 18.39 | 8 | |
| 1500m T52 | align=center colspan=4 | 4:47.80 | 9 | |||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Nick Rogers | 100m T44 | 11.26 | 8 q | align=center colspan=2 | 11.33 | 8 | |
| 400m T44 | 49.45 | 5 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 48.90 | 5 | |||
| align=left rowspan=5 | Daniel Romanchuk | 100m T54 | 15.61 | 16 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||
| 400m T54 | 49.15 | 13 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||||
| 800m T54 | 1:39.29 | 17 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||||
| 1500m T54 | 3:07.93 | 14 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||||
| 5000m T54 | 10:40.40 | 13 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | James Senbeta | 800m T54 | 1:42.47 | 19 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||
| 5000m T54 | 10:41.65 | 15 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||||
| Marathon T54 | align=center colspan=4 | align=center colspan=2 | DNF | |||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Brian Siemann | 100m T53 | 15.05 | 7 q | align=center colspan=2 | 15.23 | 7 | |
| 800m T53 | 1:43.79 | 8 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 1:41.11 | 4 | |||
| Jerome Singleton | 100m T44 | 11.23 | =6 q | align=center colspan=2 | 11.17 | 6 | ||
| Roderick Townsend-Roberts | 100m T47 | 11.07 | 6 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 11.08 | 5 | ||
| Steven Toyoji | 400m T52 | 1:06.15 | 14 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Shaquille Vance | 100m T42 | 13.27 | 13 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||
| 200m T42 | 24.65 | 3 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 24.86 | 4 | |||
| Jarryd Wallace | 100m T44 | 11.02 | 3 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 11.16 | 5 | ||
| Ahkeel Whitehead | 100m T37 | 12.21 | 11 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Hunter Woodhall | 200m T44 | 21.50 | 2 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 21.12 | ||
| 400m T44 | 48.82 | 3 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 46.70 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Regas Woods | 100m T42 | 13.06 | 10 | align=center colspan=4 | Did not advance | ||
| 200m T42 | 25.19 | 4 Q | align=center colspan=2 | 25.27 | 6 | |||
| Jaquvis Hart Jerome Singleton Jarryd Wallace Hunter Woodhall | relay T42-47 | align=center colspan=4 | align=center colspan=2 | DSQ | ||||
| Athlete | Events | Mark | Points | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobi Fawehinmi | Long jump T47 | 7.01 | - | 5 | |
| Lex Gillette | Long jump T11 | 6.44 | - | ||
| Sam Grewe | High jump F42 | 1.86 | - | ||
| Desmond Jackson | Long jump T42 | 4.91 | - | 7 | |
| Cody Jones | Javelin throw F38 | 40.53 | - | 8 | |
| Trenten Merrill | Long jump T44 | 6.84 | - | 4 | |
| Jerome Singleton | Long jump T44 | 5.56 | - | 13 | |
| align=left rowspan=2 | Jeff Skiba | High jump T44 | 1.95 | - | 5 |
| Javelin throw F44 | 45.45 | - | 13 | ||
| Nick Slade | Long jump T47 | 6.82 | - | 7 | |
| Roderick Townsend-Roberts | Long jump T47 | 7.41 PR | - | ||
| Ahkeel Whitehead | Long jump T37 | 4.83 | - | 12 | |
| Regas Woods | Long jump F42 | 5.40 | - | 6 |
| Athlete | Events | Heat | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Rank | Time | Rank | |||
| Femita Ayanebeku | 200m T44 | 28.58 | 7 q | 28.81 | 6 | |
| Scout Bassett | 100m T42 | 16.53 | 5 Q | 16.66 | 5 | |
| Breanna Clark | 400m T20 | 58.25 | 1 Q | 57.79 | ||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Kym Crosby | 100m T13 | 12.49 | 4 Q | 12.24 | |
| 400m T13 | align=center colspan=2 | 57.26 | 4 | |||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Alexa Halko | 100m T34 | align=center colspan=2 | 18.81 | ||
| 400m T34 | align=center colspan=2 | 1:00.79 | ||||
| 800m T34 | align=center colspan=2 | 2:02.08 | ||||
| Jessica Heims | 400m T44 | align=center colspan=2 | 1:09.17 | 7 | ||
| Lacey Henderson | 100m T42 | 18.48 | 10 | align=center colspan=2 | Did not advance | |
| April Holmes | 200m T44 | align=center colspan=2 | DSQ | align=center colspan=2 | Did not advance | |
| align=left rowspan=3 | Kelsey Lefevour | 100m T53 | 17.28 | 6 Q | 17.31 | 7 |
| 400m T53 | 1:01.50 | 12 | align=center colspan=2 | Did not advance | ||
| 800m T53 | 2:09.07 | 13 | align=center colspan=2 | Did not advance | ||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Cheri Madsen | 100m T54 | 16.56 | 5 Q | 16.40 | 5 |
| 400m T54 | 54.29 | 2 Q | 54.50 | |||
| align=left rowspan=5 | Chelsea McClammer | 400m T53 | 55.42 | =3 Q | 55.13 | |
| 800m T53 | 1:52.96 | 6 Q | 1:48.32 | 5 | ||
| 1500m T54 | 3:22.75 | 2 Q | 3:22.67 | |||
| 5000m T54 | 11:49.25 | 2 Q | 11:54.33 | |||
| Marathon T54 | align=center colspan=2 | align=center colspan=2 | DNF | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Hannah McFadden | 100m T54 | 16.55 | 4 Q | 16.34 | 4 |
| 400m T54 | 55.98 | 6 q | 56.20 | 7 | ||
| align=left rowspan=6 | Tatyana McFadden | 100m T54 | 16.52 | 3 Q | 16.13 | |
| 400m T54 | 53.17 | 1 Q | 53.30 | |||
| 800m T54 | 1:45.16 | 1 Q | 1:44.73 | |||
| 1500m T54 | 3:27.41 | 3 Q | 3:22.50 | |||
| 5000m T54 | 11:47.37 PR | 1 Q | 11:54.07 | |||
| Marathon T54 | align=center colspan=2 | 1:38:44 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Amanda McGrory | 800m T54 | 1:47.68 | 2 Q | 1:45.23 | 4 |
| 1500m T54 | 3:22.75 | 1 Q | 3:22.61 | |||
| 5000m T54 | 11:49.47 | 3 Q | 11:54.34 | |||
| Marathon T54 | align=center colspan=2 | 1:38:45 | ||||
| Cassie Mitchell | 100m T52 | align=center colspan=2 | align=center colspan=2 | DSQ | ||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Kerri Morgan | 100m T52 | align=center colspan=2 | 19.96 | ||
| 400m T52 | align=center colspan=2 | 1:08.31 | ||||
| Ivonne Mosquera-Schmidt | 1500m T11 | 5:12.28 | 6 q | 5:08.97 | 6 | |
| Grace Norman | 400m T44 | align=center colspan=2 | 1:01.83 | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Shirley Reilly | 400m T53 | 56.32 | 5 Q | 56.10 | 5 |
| 800m T53 | 1:49.69 | 4 q | 1:47.77 | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Susannah Scaroni | 800m T54 | 1:56.42 | 13 | align=center colspan=2 | Did not advance |
| Marathon T54 | align=center colspan=2 | 1:38:47 | 7 | |||
| Allysa Seely | 200m T36 | 32.36 | 7 q | 32.40 | 6 | |
| align=left rowspan=2 | Amy Watt | 100m T47 | 13.66 | 10 | align=center colspan=2 | Did not advance |
| 400m T47 | 1:04.56 | 7 q | 1:04.21 | 6 | ||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Liz Willis | 200m T44 | 29.67 | 12 | align=center colspan=2 | Did not advance |
| 400m T44 | align=center colspan=2 | 1:07.62 | 6 | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Deja Young | 100m T47 | 12.12 | 1 Q | 12.15 | |
| 200m T47 | 25.58 | 1 Q | 25.46 | |||
| Cheri Madsen Chelsea McClammer Hannah McFadden Tatyana McFadden | relay T53-54 | align=center colspan=2 | align=center colspan=2 | DSQ | ||
| Athlete | Events | Mark | Points | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scout Bassett | Long jump T42 | 2.94 | - | 10 | |
| Lacey Henderson | Long jump T42 | 3.33 | - | 8 | |
| align=left rowspan=2 | Angela Madsen | Javelin throw F56 | 17.21 | - | 7 |
| Shot put F57 | 8.35 | - | 8 | ||
| Amy Watt | Long jump T47 | 5.15 | - | 6 | |
| Taleah Williams | Long jump T47 | 5.17 | - | 5 |
See main article: article and Cycling at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. With one pathway for qualification being one highest ranked NPCs on the UCI Para-Cycling male and female Nations Ranking Lists on 31 December 2014, the United States qualified for the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio, assuming they continued to meet all other eligibility requirements.[7] [8]
Allison Jones went to Rio as the American with the most Paralympic Games appearance. Rio was her eighth Games. Oksana Masters had previously competed at the Paralympics in other sports, medalling in rowing at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in Rio and competing in Nordic skiing at the Winter Games.
See main article: article and Equestrian at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. The country qualified to participate in the team event at the Rio Games.[9] They earned additional individual slots via the Para Equestrian Individual Ranking List Allocation method following the suspension of Russia, and France Finland not using one of their allocated spots.
See main article: article and Football 7-a-side at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. United States national 7-a-side football team qualified for the Rio Paralympics at 2015 World Championships because of their seventh-place finish.[10]
The draw for the tournament was held on May 6 at the 2016 Pre Paralympic Tournament in Salou, Spain. The United States was put into Group B with Argentina, Netherlands and Russia.[11] Iran qualified for the 2016 Rio Games following the suspension of Russia. The IPC ruled that there could not be a redraw for the groups. This resulted in Iran being put into Group A with the Netherlands, Argentina and the United States.[12]
The tournament where the Paralympic draw took place featured 7 of the 8 teams participating in Rio. It was the last major preparation event ahead of the Rio Games for all teams participating.[13] The United States finished 6th after beating Argentina in one placement match 4 - 3 and losing to Ireland 4 - 1. The goals scored in the match against Argentina were the first the USA scored in the tournament, before putting up one more in their match against Ireland.[14] [15] [16] Their roster for this tournament included Alex Hendricks, Sean Boyle, Keith Johnson, David Garza, Joshua Brunais, Bryce Boarman, Gavin Sibayan, Adam Ballou, Gregory Brigman, Mason Abbiate, Andrew Bremer, Sam Holmes, Kevin Hensley and Steven Bohlemann. They were coached by Stuart Sharp.[17]
Going into the Rio Games, the country was ranked eighth in the world.[18]
See main article: article and Goalball at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
The United States men's national goalball team qualified for the Rio Games after finishing third at the 2014 IBSA Goalball World Championships.[19] [20] [21] Joseph Hamilton, a member of the qualifying team, said after qualifying, "It's overwhelming for our team, we’ve come a long way. We didn't make the London 2012 Games that was very hard for us. To qualify for Rio at the first chance, and against a team that has been our nemesis in recent years, is awesome. If we play our own style, I believe we are one of the best teams in the world, and now we’ve got a chance to try to prove that on the grandest stage of all."[21] The team returns to the Paralympics after having missed out on qualifying for the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. The United States' men enter the tournament ranked 9th in the world.[22]
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The United States women's national goalball team qualified for the Rio Games after finishing first at the 2014 IBSA Goalball World Championships.[19] [20] The team goes to Rio having had a disappointing performance at the 2012 Summer Paralympics where they finished twelfth. Jen Armbruster's participation in Rio for the US women's national goalball team made for seven Games appearances. This total was the second highest Games appearances among US athletes attending the Rio Games. The United States' women enter the tournament ranked 4th in the world.[22]
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See main article: article and Judo at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. With one pathway for qualification being having a top finish at the 2014 IBSA Judo World Championships, the United States earned a qualifying spot in Rio base on the performance of Dartanyon Crockett in the men's -90 kg event. The B3 Judoka finished first in his class.[23] [24] Five judoka would eventually be named to the US squad in Rio, including returning Paralympian Dartanyon Crockett. The other four judoka were Christella Garcia, Ben Goodrich, Myles Porter and Sarah Chung.
See main article: article and Paracanoeing at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. Paracanoer Alana Nichols had previously competed at the Paralympics in alpine skiing and wheelchair basketball.
See main article: article and Rowing at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. One pathway for qualifying for Rio involved having a boat have top eight finish at the 2015 FISA World Rowing Championships in a medal event. The United States qualified for the 2016 Games under this criterion in the AS Men's Single Sculls event with a fifth-place finish in a time of 04:59.510. The United States qualified a second boat in the AS Women's Single Sculls event with an eighth-place finish in a time of 05:49.760.[25] [26] The United States qualified a third boat with a second-place finish in the LTA Mixed Coxed Four event in a time of 03:19.820. This was less than a second behind the gold medal-winning boat, Great Britain, who had a time of 03:19.560.[27]
At the US Olympic and Paralympic rowing team trials held in Sarasota, Florida in April 2016, Jacqui Kapinowski confirmed her qualification by winning the women's arms and shoulders single sculls (ASW1x) event in a time of 6 minutes 15.91 seconds, finishing ahead of second place athlete KateLynne Steinke by 15.61 seconds.[28]
Jaclyn Smith is the only visually impaired competitor for the USA. She was scheduled to compete in the LTA Mix 4 event.
See main article: article and Sailing at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
The American team qualified a boat for two of the three sailing classes at the Games through their results at the 2014 Disabled Sailing World Championships held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Places were earned in the solo 2.4mR event and a crew also qualified for the two-person SKUD-18 class.[29]
An alternative pathway for qualifying for Rio involved having a boat have top seven finish at the 2015 Combined World Championships in a medal event where the country had nor already qualified through via the 2014 IFDS Sailing World Championships. The Unite qualified for the 2016 Games under this criterion in the Sonar event with a sixth-place finish overall and the second country who had not qualified via the 2014 Championships.[30] [31]
Dee Smith, at 64 years of age, was the oldest member of the United States delegation in Rio.
See main article: article and Shooting at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
The first opportunity to qualify for shooting at the Rio Games took place at the 2014 IPC Shooting World Championships in Suhl. Shooters earned spots for their NPC. The United States earned a qualifying spot at this competition in the R4 – 10m Air Rifle Standing Mixed SH2 event as a result of McKenna Dahl. Michael Tagliapietra earned a second spot for the US, with this spot in the P3 – 25m Pistol Mixed SH1 event.[32] [33] [34]
The third opportunity for direct qualification for shooters to the Rio Paralympics took place at the 2015 IPC Shooting World Cup in Sydney, Australia. At this competition, John Joss III earned a qualifying spot for their country in the R6- Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1 event.[33] [35]
The last direct qualifying event for Rio in shooting took place at the 2015 IPC Shooting World Cup in Fort Benning in November. Tammy Delano earned a qualifying spot for their country at this competition in the R3 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 event. Jazmin Almlie earned a second spot for the United States at this event with her finished in the R4 Mixed Air Rifle Standing SH2 event.[33] [36]
John Joss III was one of three active service members competing at the Rio Games.
See main article: article and Sitting volleyball at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
United States men's national sitting volleyball team qualified for the 2016 Games at the 2015 Parapan American Games after winning a silver medal.[37] [38] It marks the team's return to the Paralympic level after having last appeared in 2004.
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United States women's national sitting volleyball team qualified for the 2016 Games at the 2014 World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships.[39] [37]
Tahl Leibovitz class 9 and Pamela Fontaine class 3 will compete represent USA in table tennis.
See main article: article and Swimming at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. American swimmers competed at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships as part of their Rio qualifying efforts. The top two finishers in each Rio medal event at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships earned a qualifying spot for their country for Rio. Bradley Sndyer earned the United States a spot after winning gold in the Men's 100m Freestyle S11 with a time of 0:56.78.[40] [41] [42] Jessica Long is expected to represent the United States in Rio. She had a strong performance at the 2015 IPC World Championships, winning seven medals, four of which were gold.[4]
McClain Hermes is the youngest member of the United States Paralympic team. They turned 15 in January 2016. Jessica Long went to Rio as the most decorated American Paralympian at the Games. She had 17 total medals prior to Rio. Elizabeth Marks was one of three active American service members competing at the Rio Games. The USA team included nine visually impaired swimmers. These were Cailin Currie, Tharon Drake, Tucker Dupree, McClain Hermes, Letticia Martinez, Rebecca Meyers, Martha Reuther, Bradley Snyder and Colleen Young.
See main article: article and Paratriathlon at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
Krige Schabort was a member of Team USA competing in the paratriathlon. He previously served in the South African Army. Grace Norman and Allysa Seely competed in both athletics and the paratriathlon in Rio.
There were four visually impaired paratriathletes on the USA team. They were Elizabeth Baker, Jillian Peterson, Particia Walsh and Jessica Jones Meyers.
See main article: article and Wheelchair basketball at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
The United States men's national wheelchair basketball team has qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympics.[39] [43] They qualified through via the 2015 Parapan Am Games. They met Argentina in the semi-finals, whom they beat 59–36. They then went to the gold match medal game, where they defeated Canada 62–39.[39]
During the draw, Brazil had the choice of which group they wanted to be in. They were partnered with Spain, who would be in the group Brazil did not select. Brazil chose Group B, which included Iran, the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Algeria. That left Spain in Group A with Australia, Canada, Turkey, the Netherlands and Japan.[44]
Trevon Jenifer was the shortest member of the Team USA in Rio. He is 91.44cm (36inches) tall due to congenital amputations in both his legs.
The United States women's national wheelchair basketball team has qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympics.[39] [43] The women qualified after claiming gold at the Parapan Am Games in 2015 after defeating Canada 80–72.[39]
As hosts, Brazil got to choose which group they were put into. They were partnered with Algeria, who would be put in the group they did not choose. Brazil chose Group A, which included Canada, Germany, Great Britain and Argentina. Algeria ended up in Group B with the United States, the Netherlands, France and China.[44]
See main article: article and Wheelchair rugby at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. The United States qualified for the Rio Paralympics. They were scheduled to open play in Rio against France on September 14. Their second game was scheduled to be against Sweden on September 15. Their final game of group play as against Japan on September 16.[45] The United States entered the tournament ranked number one in the world.[46]
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See main article: article and Wheelchair tennis at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. The United States qualified two competitors in the men's single event as a result of Bipartite Commission Invitation places. The players invited were Steve Baldwin and Jon Rydberg. The United States qualified four players in the women's single event. Emmy Kaiser and Dana Mathewson qualified via the standard qualification route. Kaitlyn Verfuerth qualified via a Bipartite Commission Invitation place.[47] Russia had qualified two player in the women's singles event, Ludmila Bubnova and Viktoriia Lvova.[48] Following their suspension, one spot was re-allocated by the IPC to the United States' Shelby Baron. The United States qualified three players in the quad singles event. Nicholas Taylor and David Wagner qualified via the standard route. Bryan Barten qualified via a Bipartite Commission Invitation place.