Nieves Leads U.S. Delegation at 2024 Paralympic Opening Ceremony

PARIS, France (Aug. 29, 2024) – Sitting volleyball athlete and flag-bearer Nicky Nieves led the U.S. delegation at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Wednesday in Paris.

“I feel like I’m living in my wildest dreams, and I had all of America backing me in those moments,” said Nieves, who won the gold medal with the team at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. “This was definitely the best opening ceremony I’ve ever experienced.”

Nieves and wheelchair basketball player Steve Serio led the delegation down the Champs-Elysees before reaching a stadium built at the Place de la Concorde where fans cheered them on.

“The energy was incredible, and I loved seeing so much passion for the Paralympic Games,” said U.S. sitting athlete Emma Schieck, who has a Paralympic gold medal from the Tokyo 2020 Games. “My favorite part was walking our lap around the stadium. There were so many things to see that I didn’t even know where to look. Seeing a sea of people there to support the Games and knowing that my family and friends were up in the stands sharing this once-in-a-lifetime experience with me means more than I could ever express.”

The Ceremony featured fireworks, music, and dance routines, setting the stage for 11 days of exciting Paralympic competition. It included a grand choreographed show, in which many dancers used crutches to showcase the theme of overcoming physical differences.

The Ceremony closed with the lighting of the Paralympic cauldron, which is made to look like a golden hot-air balloon. It’s the same cauldron used for the Paris Olympic Games.

The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team will begin Paralympic competition when it plays China at 3 a.m. PT/12 p.m. in Paris on Friday, Aug. 30. The match will be available live on Peacock.

2024 U.S. Paralympic Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team

No., Name, Pos., Height, Hometown, USAV Region
1 Lora Webster-Bargellini (MB, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y., Garden Empire)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif., Northern California)
3 Lexi Shifflett-Patterson (S/L, 5-4, Waseca, Minn., North Country)
5 Katie Holloway Bridge (OH, 6-3, Lake Stevens, Wash., Puget Sound)
6 Heather Erickson (OPP, 6-0, Fayetteville, N.C., Carolina)
7C Monique Matthews (MB/OH, 6-0, Ardmore, Okla., Oklahoma)
8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz., Arizona)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla., Oklahoma)
10 Sydney Satchell (L, 5-2, Windsor, Conn., New England)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C., Carolina)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oklahoma)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla., Florida)

Alternates
18 Courtney Baker (OH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky., Pioneer)
22 MaKenzie Franklin (OH, 6-0, Red Wing, Minn., North Country)
24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coaches: Leo Filho, Michelle Goodall
Team Leader: Patrick Lawrence
Athletic Trainer: Kat King
Performance Analyst: Jeffery Hicks
Team Psychologist: Adam O’Neil
Athletic Performance Coach: Bobby Moore
Dietitian: Jacque Scaramella

U.S. Women’s Schedule for the 2024 Paralympic Games

Aug. 30: USA vs. China, 12 p.m. Paris time/3 a.m. Pacific time (watch on Peacock)
Sept. 1: USA vs. France, 8 p.m. Paris time/11 a.m. Pacific time (watch on Peacock)
Sept. 3: USA vs. Italy, 2 p.m. Paris time/5 a.m. Pacific time (USA and Peacock)
Sept. 4: Classification matches for 5th/6th and 7th/8th places
Sept. 5: Semifinals (Peacock)
Sept. 7: Medal matches (CNBC and Peacock)