Team USA — and Team Indiana — made a big impact in the 2024 Paris Olympics. A total of 28 Olympic medals have ties to Indiana. And now, another group of talented Hoosier athletes are preparing to go for gold.
The US Paralympic Team was announced and it includes nine Hoosier athletes. They’re already proving to be big players, with a combined 15 medals that they’ve already won in their careers.
Noah Malone, Track and Field
The 22-year-old runner from Fishers was diagnosed with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, a rare eye condition. He’s a two-time Paralympian who has won one gold medal and two silver medals.
- Paris 2024 update: Noah completed the cycle in Paris, winning one of each medal — gold in the 100-meter T12, silver in the 400-meter T12, and bronze in the 4x100-meter universal relay.
Grace Nuhfer, Swimming
Grace is a first-time Paralympian from Greenwood at 21 years old. She set a Parapan American Games record when she won a silver medal in the 50-meter freestyle.
- Paris 2024 update: Grace won a silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly final on opening night.
Jeff Butler, Wheelchair Rugby
Jeff is 35 years old and is from Fort Wayne. He was first introduced to wheelchair rugby by a friend after a traffic accident that resulted in a broken neck when he was 13 years old. He’s a three-time Paralympian who has won two silver medals.
- Paris 2024 update: Jeff was part of the US rugby squad that won its third consecutive Paralympic silver medal.
Lizzi Smith, Swimming
This 28-year-old from Muncie is a three-time Paralympian who has won two silver medals and one bronze medal. Lizzi started swimming at the age of 7.
Evan Austin, Swimming
Evan is from Terre Haute and is a four-time Paralympian with spastic paraplegia. He’s won one gold medal and one bronze medal.
Sam Grewe, Track and Field
This 26-year-old from Middlebury is a three-time Paralympian who’s won one gold medal and one silver medal. In 2011, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer that resulted in the amputation of his right leg.
Joel Gomez, Track and Field
This two-time Paralympian is representing Purdue University after winning the 1,500m T13 at trials. He was born with a rare genetic disorder called blue cone monochromacy.
Rose Hollermann, Wheelchair basketball
Rose is a four-time Paralympian who has won one gold and one bronze medal. She is pursuing a master’s degree in education from Purdue Global.
- Paris 2024 update: Rose was part of the US wheelchair basketall team that survived against Great Britain to advance to the Semifinal, ultimately winning silver.
Grace Norman, Paratriathlon
Grace is a three-time Paralympian who currently holds the world record the world records for the 800-meter and 1,500-meter in the T44 classification for track and field. She’s originally from Jamestown, Ohio, but is now married and living in Bloomington.
- Paris 2024 update: Grace earned her second gold medal of her career by winning the PTS5 Paralympic Triathlon.
The Paralympics started on Wednesday, Aug. 28 and ran through Sunday, Sept. 8 in Paris. Team USA came in third in the 2024 Paralympics medal race with a total of 105 medals.
