24 Belgian paralympic athletes to compete at Rio 2016

Twenty-four paralympic athletes are on their way to Rio de Janeiro to represent Belgium at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games between 7 and 18 September. The Belgian Paralympic Committee (BPC) says the Belgian delegation is capable of bringing home as many as eight medals, writes Het Laatste Nieuws.

The delegation is led by paralympic equestrian Michèle George (pictured), who made her paralympic debut winning two gold medals at London 2012, athletes Marieke Vervoort (one gold and one silver) and Peter Genyn, tennis player Joachim Gérard and boccia player Pieter Cilissen (one bronze), among others.

In 2012, 40 Belgian athletes won a total of seven medals at the Paralympic Games in London. “We want to perform equally well,” said BPC president Anne d'Ieteren about Rio 2016. “With four reigning world champions and three athletes who were crowned European champion last year, that expectation is not unrealistic. The BPC is convinced that Rio 2016 will be as much of a success as London.”