Photo by Marcus Hartmann
Meet the Utah athletes bound for Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah | August 19, 2024 — While the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics have concluded, the Games are far from over. As the spotlight shifts to the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics, The State of Sport proudly celebrates the seven athletes set to represent Utah on Team USA.
“The State of Sport has a rich history of producing top-tier athletes across various sports,” said Jeff Robbins, Utah Sports Commission President & CEO. “Join us in supporting our Utah Paralympians as they showcase our state on the world stage.”
Team Utah will be represented in six of the twenty-two sports featured in Paris. The roster includes Paralympic champion David Blair, three-time Paralympic medalist Hunter Woodhall, and two-time Paralympian and bronze medalist Ali Ibanez. Dennis Connors and Garrett Schoonover will be making their Paralympic debuts, as well as Raelene Elam and Audrey Kim in alternate athlete roles.
“Having been born and raised in Utah adds so much to my experience representing Team USA at the Games. I love Utah so much, and I love the fact that I personally get to bring a little piece of Utah to Team USA!” said David Blair, Rio 2016 gold medalist.
Athletes with Utah ties representing Team USA at Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics:
Para Athletics
David Blair, Rio 2016 Gold | Discus | Davis High School alum; Weber State University Track & Field alum; Eagle Mountain resident
Hunter Woodhall, Rio 2016 Silver & Bronze and Tokyo 2020 Bronze | 100m & 400m | Syracuse High School alum
Para Cycling Road
Dennis Connors | University of Utah alum
Wheelchair Basketball
Ali Ibanez, Tokyo 2020 Bronze | Murray native
Wheelchair Fencing
Garrett Schoonover | Salt City Swords Fencing Club; Sandy resident
Sitting Volleyball
Raelene Elam | St. George resident (alternate athlete)
Para Swimming
Audrey Kim | Olympus High School, Class of ’24 (alternate athlete)
Team Utah bringing home eight medals from the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics:
Haley Batten Silver – Cycling Mountain Bike
Grant Fisher Bronze – Athletics 10,000m & 5000m
Brooke Raboutou Silver – Sport Climbing Boulder & Lead
Kenneth Rooks Silver – Athletics 3000m Steeplechase
Stephanie Rovetti & Alex “Spiff” Sedrick Bronze – Rugby Sevens
Sam Watson Bronze – Sport Climbing Speed