Great Britain at the Paralympics
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has participated in every summer and winter Paralympic Games.
While the Olympic Games find their origin in Greece, Britain, and specifically the Stoke Mandeville Hospital is recognised as the spiritual home of the Paralympic Games. The first Paralympic Games, held in Rome in 1960, were devised as a direct result of the Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Games, devised by Dr Ludwig Guttmann for soldiers with spinal cord injuries, and this legacy is commemorated before each Paralympic Games since 2012 with the lighting of a 'legacy flame' at Stoke Mandeville as part of the Paralympic torch event.
Britain has performed particularly well at the Summer Paralympic Games, consistently finishing between second and fifth on the medal tables - a slightly better performance than at the Olympics. Britain has won one gold medal at the Winter Paralympics and 626 at the Summer Games. Britain is second on the all-time Paralympic Games medal table.
Britain was the co-host of the 1984 Summer Paralympics in Stoke Mandeville, and the host of the 2012 Summer Paralympics, in London.
Although the country uses the name "Great Britain", athletes from Northern Ireland are entitled to compete as part of British delegations. Representatives of the devolved Northern Ireland government, however, have objected to the name, which they argue creates a perception that Northern Ireland is not part of the British Olympic team, and have called for the team to be renamed as Team UK.
Under the terms of a long-standing settlement between the British Olympic Association and the Olympic Council of Ireland, athletes from Northern Ireland can elect to represent Ireland at the Olympics, as Northern Irish people are legally entitled to dual citizenship.
Britain's most successful Paralympian is swimmer Mike Kenny who won 16 individual gold medals, as well as two relay silvers, in four Games. Although Great Britain has competed in every Games, the British Paralympic Committee was only founded in 1989, after Kenny's retirement. Media in Britain consistently refer to the most decorated Paralympic athletes from that year, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Dave Roberts and Sarah Storey as Britain's "greatest Paralympians", occasionally with the phrase "of the modern era", attached. The International Paralympic Committee, however, recognise all of Kenny's eighteen medals as Paralympic medals.
Britain's first Paralympic gold was earned at the 1960 Rome Games by Margaret Maughan. Her feat was recognised when Maughan was chosen to light the Paralympic Flame during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
Britain's first Winter Paralympic gold was earned at the Sochi 2014 Games by Kelly Gallagher and guide Charlotte Evans in the Women's Super-G Visually impaired.
Jade Etherington and guide Caroline Powell are the first and only Britons to win four medals at a single Winter Paralympics. After winning a silver medal in the Super-G, visually impaired event on 14 March 2014, Etherington became Great Britain's most successful female Winter Paralympian.
Hosted Games
In 2012, Great Britain became the second nation, the other being the United States, to host the Summer Paralympic Games twice.| Games | Host city | Dates | Nations | Participants | Events |
| 1984 Summer Paralympics | Stoke Mandeville | 22 July – 1 August | 41 | 1100 | 603 |
| 2012 Summer Paralympics | London | 29 August – 9 September | 164 | 4302 | 503 |
Medal tables
Medals by Summer Games
Medals by Winter Games
Multi medallists
Athletes in bold are still activeSummer Paralympics
Summer Paralympic multi medallists
Athletes who have won at least three gold medals or five medals.| No. | Athlete | Sport | Years | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Mike Kenny | Swimming | 1976 – 1988 | M | 16 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Sarah Storey | Swimming Cycling | 1992 – 2016 | F | 14 | 8 | 3 | 25 |
| 3 | Tanni Grey-Thompson | Athletics | 1988 – 2000 | F | 11 | 4 | 1 | 16 |
| 4 | David Roberts | Swimming | 2000 – 2008 | M | 11 | 4 | 1 | 16 |
| 5 | Lee Pearson | Equestrian | 2000 - 2016 | M | 11 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| 6 | Isabel Newstead | Athletics Shooting Swimming | 1984 - 2004 | F | 10 | 4 | 4 | 18 |
| 7 | Carol Bryant | Athletics Table tennis Swimming Wheelchair fencing | 1964 - 1976, 1988 | F | 10 | 2 | 5 | 17 |
| 8 | Chris Holmes | Swimming | 1988 - 2000 | M | 9 | 5 | 1 | 15 |
| 9 | Robin Surgeoner | Swimming | 1984 - 1988 | M | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 10 | Robert Matthews | Athletics | 1984 - 2004 | M | 8 | 4 | 1 | 13 |
| 11 | Sophie Christiansen | Equestrian | 2004 - 2016 | F | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 12 | James Anderson | Swimming | 1992 - 2012 | M | 6 | 9 | 2 | 17 |
| 13 | Valerie Robertson | Archery Athletics Swimming Wheelchair fencing | 1964 - 1976 | F | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
| 14 | Dick Thompson | Athletics Wheelchair basketball | 1960 - 1968 | M | 6 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
| 15 | Darren Kenny | Cycling | 2004 - 2012 | M | 6 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| 16 | David Weir | Athletics | 2004 - 2016 | M | 6 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 17 | Janice Burton | Swimming | 1984 - 1996 | F | 5 | 10 | 5 | 20 |
| 18 | James Muirhead | Swimming | 1976 - 1984 | M | 5 | 5 | 3 | 13 |
| 19 | Noel Thatcher | Athletics | 1984 - 2004 | M | 5 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
| 20 | Barbara Anderson | Archery Swimming Table tennis | 1960 - 1972 | F | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 20 | David Ellis | Swimming | 1964 - 1972 | M | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 22 | Ellie Simmonds | Swimming | 2008 - 2016 | F | 5 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 23 | Anne Dunham | Equestrian | 1996 - 2008 | F | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 24 | Colin Keay | Athletics | 1984 - 1988 | M | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 25 | Michael Walker | Athletics | 1988 - 1992 | M | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 25 | Hannah Cockroft | Athletics | 2012 - 2016 | F | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 25 | Natasha Baker | Equestrian | 2012 - 2016 | F | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 28 | Margaret Maughan | Archery Dartchery Lawn bowls Swimming | 1960 - 1980 | F | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 28 | Deborah Criddle | Equestrian | 2004 - 2012 | F | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 30 | Caroline Innes | Athletics | 1992 - 2000 | F | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 31 | Jody Cundy | Swimming Cycling | 1996 - 2012 | M | 4 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| 32 | James Crisp | Swimming | 2000 - 2012 | M | 3 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| 33 | Margaret McEleny | Swimming | 1992 - 2004 | F | 3 | 5 | 7 | 15 |
| 34 | Jeanette Chippington | Swimming Paracanoe | 1988 - 2004, 2016 | F | 3 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| 35 | Nigel Coultas | Athletics | 1988 - 1992 | M | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 36 | Stephen Payton | Athletics | 1996 - 2008 | M | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| 37 | Giles Long | Swimming | 1996 - 2004 | M | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 38 | Nicola Tustain | Equestrian | 2000 - 2004 | F | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 39 | Kenny Churchill | Athletics | 1992 - 2008 | M | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 40 | Peter Hull | Swimming | 1988 - 1992 | M | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 41 | Martin Mansell | Swimming | 1984 - 1988 | M | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| 42 | Clare Cunningham | Swimming Triathlon | 1992 - 1996, 2016 | F | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
Multi medals at single Games
This is a list of British athletes who have won at least two gold medals in a single Games. Ordered categorically by gold medals earned, sports then year.| No. | Athlete | Sport | Year | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Dick Thompson | 1960 | M | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | |
| 1 | Dick Thompson | 1960 | M | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| 2 | Pauline Foulds | 1960 | F | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2 | Robin Surgeoner | 1984 | M | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 4 | Darren Kenny | 2008 | M | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 5 | Barbara Anderson | 1960 | F | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 5 | Barbara Anderson | 1960 | F | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 5 | Michael Walker | 1988 | M | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 7 | Janice Burton | 1992 | F | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | |
| 8 | James Crisp | 2000 | M | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | |
| 9 | Sarah Bailey | 1996 | F | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 10 | Nigel Coultas | 1988 | M | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 10 | Bethany Firth | 2016 | F | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 12 | Stephen Payton | 1996 | M | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 13 | Colin Keay | 1984 | M | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 13 | Peter Hull | 1992 | M | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 15 | Joanne Rout | 1988 | F | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
| 16 | Jeanette Chippington | 1996 | F | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 17 | Kadeena Cox | 2016 | F | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| 17 | Kadeena Cox | 2016 | F | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 17 | Ellie Simmonds | 2012 | F | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| 18 | Nicola Tustain | 2000 | F | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| 19 | Thelma Young | 1988 | F | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Multi medals at a single event
This is a list of British athletes who have won at least two gold medals in a single event at the Summer Paralympics. Ordered categorically by medals earned, sports then gold medals earned.| No. | Athlete | Sport | Event | Years | Games | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Sascha Kindred | Men's 200m ind. medley | 1996-2016 | 6 | M | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2 | Tommy Taylor | Men's doubles | 1960-1980 | 6 | M | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| 3 | Anne Dunham | Team open | 1996-2008 | 4 | F | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Stephen Miller | Men's club throw F32/51 | 1996-2016 | 6 | M | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
| 5 | Kenny Churchill | Men's javelin throw F36 | 1992-2004 | 4 | M | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 6 | Caroline Innes | Women's 100m T36 | 1992-2000 | 3 | F | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 7 | Emma Brown | Women's -82 kg | 2000-2004 | 2 | F | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Most appearances
This is a list of British athletes who have competed in four or more Summer Paralympics. Active athletes are in bold. Athletes who were aged under 15 years of age and over 40 years of age are in bold.| No. | Athlete | Sport | Birth Year | Games Years | First/Last Age | Gender | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Deanna Coates | 1954 | 1984-2012 | 30 - 58 | F | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | |
| 2 | Isabel Newstead | 1955 | 1980 - 2004 | 25 - 49 | F | 10 | 4 | 4 | 18 | |
| 2 | James Rawson | 1965 | 1984 - 2008 | 19 - 43 | M | 5 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |
| 2 | Anthony Peddle | 1971 | 1988 - 2012 | 17 - 41 | M | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | |
| 5 | Robert Matthews | 1961 | 1984 - 2004 | 23 - 51 | M | 8 | 4 | 1 | 13 | |
| 5 | Jane Stidever | 1966 | 1984 - 2004 | 18 - 38 | F | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | |
| 5 | James Anderson | 1963 | 1992 - 2012 | 29 - 49 | M | 6 | 9 | 2 | 17 | |
| 5 | Jody Cundy | 1978 | 1996 - 2016 | 18 - 38 | M | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 | |
| 5 | Stephen Miller | 1980 | 1996 - 2016 | 16 - 36 | M | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
| 10 | Christopher Holmes | 1971 | 1988 - 2000 | 17 - 29 | M | 9 | 5 | 1 | 15 | |
| 10 | Stephen Brunt | 1960 | 1988 - 2000 | 18 - 40 | M | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |