CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced its official roster for the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team, and former student-athlete and alum Hannah Aspden '22 is one of 225 athletes who will represent Team USA this summer in Paris, the committee announced this week.
 
Aspden '22, the two-time Paralympian and four-time Paralympic medalist, made her first trip to the Games in 2016. Aspden was the first swimmer at Queens to win a gold medal in either the Olympics or Paralympics. Additionally, Aspden was the youngest Team USA swimmer to earn a medal at either the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Rio.
 
Aspden will head to the water on Sept. 2 for the mixed 4x100-meter medley. On Sept. 3, she will swim in the 100-meter backstroke event (S9) and head back the next day on Sept. 4 for the 100-meter freestyle event (S9).
 
"Hannah [Aspden] came to Queens a leader, she left Queens a leader built for life and now takes her leadership to the World stage as one of the Captains of the USA contingency," Director of Swimming Jeff Dugdale said. "Her family at Queens is so proud of her and are excited to cheer her on from the sidelines. Royal up!"

The American collegiate athletics system plays an important role in Team USA's success on the Paralympic stage. This summer in Paris, more than 50% of U.S. Paralympians will have competed collegiately as part of their journey to Team USA. In total, 90 schools will have one or more U.S. Paralympians competing in Paris.

Five teams have at least 60% collegiate participation on their U.S. Paralympic rosters: rowing (100%), swimming (61%), track & field (71%), men's wheelchair basketball (92%) and women's wheelchair basketball (92%). College athlete representation on the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team spans all three NCAA Divisions (I, II and III), as well as junior colleges, NAIA schools and collegiate club/recreational programs. 
 
"We are filled with pride to unveil the Team USA athletes of the who will represent the United States at the Paralympic Games in Paris this summer," said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. "Their journey to the pinnacle of their careers is a testament to their unwavering dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence – attributes shared by our community of National Governing Bodies, coaches, families and USOPC staff who strive to help them achieve. We've seen what Paris has to offer the athletes of the world as they compete, and the fans of sport who celebrate the very best in elite competition. Now we eagerly anticipate the extraordinary moments and awe-inspiring Paralympic competition that lies ahead, and we can't wait for Team USA to show the world what they can do."

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games kick off Wednesday, August 28 and run through Sunday, Sept. 8. During this time, the city of Paris will welcome more than 4,400 Paralympians from around the world to compete in 22 different sports. In total, there will be 549 medal events with Paralympic competition spanning 17 different venues. Tune-in to Peacock to watch the Opening Ceremony on August 28.
 

All collegiate data of the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team was collected by the USOPC collegiate partnerships department. Team USA's collegiate footprint is defined by athletes who have or will represent their college in competition. This includes athletes who have finished their collegiate careers, those currently competing and incomers who have signed National Letters of Intent. Athletes who competed in NCAA intercollegiate athletics, non-NCAA varsity programs, junior college programs and club sports are included in the USOPC's collegiate data collection. More information about the collegiate composition of the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team can be found at USOPC.org/2024college.