The Olympics are a grand affair, but so are the Paralympics. This year’s event will also be hosted in Paris at the end of the month, so let’s take a look at some of the greatest Paralympians of all time.

Trischa Zorn 

Now 60, American swimmer Trischa Zorn is the greatest Paralympian of all time still with 55 individual medals to her name and a spot in the International Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame. Blind from birth because of aniridia, Trischa received two iris implants, providing some semblance of vision though she continued to be classified legally blind even so. At the pinnacle of her career, Trischa won 10 golds and 2 silvers at the Barcelona games in 1992. 

Heinz Frei

Swiss wheelchair athlete Heinz Frei has 35 Paralympic medals, 14 world championship titles and 122 marathon wins under his belt. The 63-year-old became paralysed after a bad fall in his 20s, and he has spoken widely about the struggle of coming to terms with his situation and finding new direction. Heinz is known for his work towards pushing inclusion of paraplegics in sports and other areas.

Ragnhild Myklebust 

Norwegian Nordic skier Ragnhild Myklebust continues to be the top medal winner at the winter Paralympics even at the ripe age of 80. She has 27 medals to her credit, including 22 golds; interestingly, she only started competing in her 40s in multiple categories. A polio survivor, Myklebust has won in short, middle and long-distance cross-country skiing, as well as biathlon, and ice sledge racing.

Beatrice Hess

One of the torchbearers for France at Paris 2024, Beatrice Hess is considered to be one of the greatest French athletes of all time. With 25 Paralympic medals to her name, of which 20 are gold, Beatrice, in her heyday, was often called the best swimmer in the world. She broke nine world records at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000. Beatrice has cerebral palsy.

Daniel Dias

The youngest Paralympian on this list, Daniel Dias is Brazil’s most successful para-athlete of all time. Born with malformed limbs, Daniel is a swimmer and has been competing since the 2008 Paralympics. He has won 27 medals including 14 gold medals; he announced his retirement after the Tokyo games in 2020.