Meet the athletes representing Massachusetts on Team USA at the 2024 Paralympic Games

There are six Massachusetts athletes competing at the 2024 Paralympic Games on Team USA .

These athletes are just six out of the 225 Team USA Paralympians in Paris. Team USA has athletes from 39 different states representing their country in the prestigious international event.

Only two of the six athletes from Massachusetts have been at the Paralympics before. The other four are first-timers at the Games.

Opening ceremonies for the 2024 summer Paralympics was held on August 28. The Games run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.

Here are the athletes representing Massachusetts on Team USA at the 2024 Paralympics.

Femita Ayanbeku, Para Track and Field (Boston, MA)

Femita Ayanbeku is a runner from Boston competing in the sport of para track and field. She lost her right leg below-the-knee after a vehicular collision when she was 11 years old, according to her Paralympic Team USA profile page. The Boston native grew up playing basketball and was introduced to the Paralympic movement in 2015.

Ayanbeku has competed at the Paralympics twice before, the first time in the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics in 2016 and the second time at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020. She did not win medals at either event but did place in the top 10 for some of her performances.

Ayanbeku will be competing in Paris just six months after giving birth to her daughter.

Follow Ayanbeku on Instagram at femitaayanbeku .

Emelie Eldracher, Para-Rowing (Andover, MA)

Emelie Eldracher is an athlete from Andover and will be competing in para-rowing in this year's Paris Paralympics. She went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Eldracher designed the wearable AI software for the first intelligent heated jacket in the world, according to her Paralympic Team USA profile page.

This marks Eldracher's first time at the Paralympics; she does, however, possess world championship experience, obtaining a silver medal at the 2023 World Rowing Championship in the PR3 mixed coxed four competition.

Follow Eldracher on Tiktok at @emelieldracher .

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Fiona Howard, Para-Equestrian (Boston, MA)

Fiona Howard is competing in the sport of para-equestrian for Team USA at the Paris Paralympics.

She was born and raised in England, immigrating to the U.S. in 2016. Her hometown is listed as Boston and she is a part of the Team USA dressage team, according to her Paralympic Team USA profile page.

Howard started riding horses at three years old, later learning jumping, eventing, polocrosse and polo. Paralympian and 2022 world championship medalist Kate Shoemaker coached Howard.

Follow Howard on Instagram at fionahoward.paraeq .

Alex Flynn, Para-Rowing (Wilmington, MA)

Alex Flynn is an athlete from Wilmington and will be competing in para-rowing at this year's Paris Paralympics. He was born, raised, goes to school and trains in Massachusetts. Flynn enjoys skiing and waterboarding in his spare time, according to his Paralympic Team USA profile page.

This is Flynn's first time at the Paralympics. He did win a silver medal at the 2023 World Rowing Championship in the PR3 mixed coxed four competition, rowing along with Eldracher in that heat.

Saige Harper, Para-Rowing (Easthampton, MA)

Saige Harper hails from Easthampton and will be competing in para-rowing at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Harper was a competitive swimmer for 15 years before switching to rowing. She is studying exercise science at Sacred Heart University and is 22 years old, according to her Paralympic Team USA profile page.

Paris is Harper's first time competing at the Paralympics. She won a silver medal at the 2023 World Rowing Championship in the PR3 mixed coxed four competition, rowing along with Eldracher and Flynn in that heat.

Follow her on Instagram at saigeharperr .

Leanne Smith, Para-Swimming (Salem, MA)

Leanne Smith is an athlete from Salem and is competing in para-swimming at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

According to Smith's Paralympic Team USA profile, in 2010, she experienced a sudden onset of facial paralysis and numbness, as well as tingling and weakness on her left side, spending the next five months in the hospital as doctors tried to figure out the cause of her symptoms. She was diagnosed with a rare neurological muscle disease called dystonia in January 2012.

Smith began swimming in 2013 as part of an aquatic rehabilitation session recommended by her physiotherapist.

This marks Smith's second time at the Paralympics, having won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Follow her on Instagram at l.smith.88 .

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: Meet the athletes representing Massachusetts on Team USA at the 2024 Paralympic Games