Several athletes from Northern California are set to compete in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris beginning later this month.For many athletes, this will be a return trip to the Paralympic Games, but some are ready to make their first appearance and earn their first medal. Here are seven athletes from the Sacramento area who have earned their spot in the City of Lights.Roderick Townsend from StocktonThis will be Roderick Townsend's third Paralympics competing in high jump and long jump. The former Lincoln High School football player is no stranger to winning either, racking up three gold medals and one silver medal in his trips to Rio and Tokyo.Follow him on Instagram here.Kym Crosby from Yuba CityCrosby was born at Beale Air Force Base and graduated from Chico State University.This is Crosby's third Paralympics, previously competing in Tokyo and Rio. She's earned three bronze medals in total — one in the 100-meter in Tokyo, one in the 400-meter and one in the 100-meter in Rio.Follow her on Instagram here.Jamie Whitmore from SomersetWhitmore is competing in her third Paralympics in para-cycling. She earned a gold medal in the women's road race in Rio and a silver medal in the women's 3-kilometer pursuit in Rio.She's always been athletic. Whitmore graduated from Valley High School in Sacramento and earned a scholarship to Cal State Northridge, where she ran cross country and track.Follow her on Instagram here.Mark Barr from DavisBarr is no stranger to the Paralympics, making his fourth trip to the events in 2024. However, he has changed things up a bit.Barr competed in swimming in Athens and Beijing. But in 2016, he returned to the games to compete in the triathlon.Barr graduated from Davis Senior High. He swam competitively for Cal Poly from 2004 to 2008.Follow him on Instagram here.Bryan Larsen, Jesuit High School gradBryan Larsen was born in Windsor, Calif. but attended and graduated from Jesuit High School in Sacramento. Larsen is competing in his first Paralympic Games in para-cycling. Follow him on Instagram here.Hannah Chadwick, a UC Davis gradHannah Chadwick is competing in her first Paralympics in para-cycling. Although it's her first Paralympic Games, she earned gold at the Parapan American Games in Santiago in 2023.Chadwick's hometown is El Cerrito, but she earned her degree at UC Davis. Follow her on Instagram here. Christella Garcia from SacramentoChristella Garcia is set to compete in her third Paralympics in para judo. She previously competed in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016, where she earned a bronze medal.Garcia hails from Sacramento and attended Sacramento City College. She continues to train in the city.Follow her on X here.Leo Merle of FolsomLeo Merle is a graduate from Vista del Lago High School and UC Santa Cruz. He ran cross country, and track and field at both schools. After college, he graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in May of this year.He won gold at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago for the 1,500-meter race.The Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games begin on Aug. 28 and run through Sept. 8.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Several athletes from Northern California are set to compete in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris beginning later this month.
For many athletes, this will be a return trip to the Paralympic Games, but some are ready to make their first appearance and earn their first medal.
Advertisement
Here are seven athletes from the Sacramento area who have earned their spot in the City of Lights.
Roderick Townsend from Stockton
Andy Lyons
This will be Roderick Townsend's third Paralympics competing in high jump and long jump. The former Lincoln High School football player is no stranger to winning either, racking up three gold medals and one silver medal in his trips to Rio and Tokyo.
Kym Crosby from Yuba City
Naomi Baker
Crosby was born at Beale Air Force Base and graduated from Chico State University.
This is Crosby's third Paralympics, previously competing in Tokyo and Rio. She's earned three bronze medals in total — one in the 100-meter in Tokyo, one in the 400-meter and one in the 100-meter in Rio.
Jamie Whitmore from Somerset
Alexandre Loureiro
Whitmore is competing in her third Paralympics in para-cycling. She earned a gold medal in the women's road race in Rio and a silver medal in the women's 3-kilometer pursuit in Rio.
She's always been athletic. Whitmore graduated from Valley High School in Sacramento and earned a scholarship to Cal State Northridge, where she ran cross country and track.
2-time Paralympic medalist from Sacramento Jamie Whitmore is headed to Paris
Mark Barr from Davis
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
Barr is no stranger to the Paralympics, making his fourth trip to the events in 2024. However, he has changed things up a bit.
Barr competed in swimming in Athens and Beijing. But in 2016, he returned to the games to compete in the triathlon.
Barr graduated from Davis Senior High. He swam competitively for Cal Poly from 2004 to 2008.
Bryan Larsen, Jesuit High School grad
Bryan Larsen was born in Windsor, Calif. but attended and graduated from Jesuit High School in Sacramento.
Larsen is competing in his first Paralympic Games in para-cycling.
Hannah Chadwick, a UC Davis grad
Claudio Santana/Getty Images
Hannah Chadwick is competing in her first Paralympics in para-cycling. Although it's her first Paralympic Games, she earned gold at the Parapan American Games in Santiago in 2023.
Chadwick's hometown is El Cerrito, but she earned her degree at UC Davis.
Christella Garcia from Sacramento
David Finch
Christella Garcia is set to compete in her third Paralympics in para judo. She previously competed in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016, where she earned a bronze medal.
Garcia hails from Sacramento and attended Sacramento City College. She continues to train in the city.
Leo Merle of Folsom
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Leo Merle is a graduate from Vista del Lago High School and UC Santa Cruz. He ran cross country, and track and field at both schools. After college, he graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in May of this year.
He won gold at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago for the 1,500-meter race.
The Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games begin on Aug. 28 and run through Sept. 8.
