Four Scots announced in Paralympics 2012 line-up

The British Paralympic Association announced yesterday that 20 athletes from the three sports of boccia, judo and powerlifting have been selected for ParalympicsGB for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, including four athletes from Scotland.

The Scottish athletes named were Edinburgh-based judoka Sam Ingram and Scott McCowan (Stirling) and brothers Stephen and Peter McGuire (Hamilton), who play boccia, which involves throwing leather balls as close as possible to a jack.

Paralympics GB chef de mission Craig Hunter said: “I am delighted to welcome these athletes to ParalympicsGB. It is the culmination of hard work and dedication on their part.

“Today’s selection means we have now selected almost a third of ParalympicsGB for London, so it really feels like the team is starting to come together.”

Scott McCowan, a student in psychology and sports studies at Stirling University, said: “It’s still quite hard to comprehend that I’ve been selected for the Paralympic Games. It is the pinnacle of disability sport and to be honoured with the privilege and responsibility of representing ParalympicsGB is an unbelievable feeling. It once again highlights the ‘can do’ attitude that disability sport, ParalympicsGB and GB Boccia promotes as all my hard work and dedication has paid off.”

Stephen and Peter McGuire narrowly missed qualification for Beijing and they will be the first British athletes to compete in boccia’s BC4 classification.

Commenting on their selection, Stephen said: “To say I’m delighted would be an understatement. Being selected to represent ParalympicsGB at a home Games in London alongside my brother, Peter, is one of the proudest moments in my life.

“This has been an accumulation of seven years’ hard work, dedication and commitment. By missing out so narrowly to qualify for Beijing, we were hungry for selection this time round.”

Peter added: “I am over the moon to be selected to compete in London this year. It’s been a seven-year journey after just missing out for Beijing. I’ve worked really hard at international competitions, collecting ranking points and medals over the four-year cycle in order to compete at the pinnacle event in an athlete’s career.”

Judoka Sam Ingram will also be joined by his brother, Joe. Sam won bronze in the men’s -90kg in Beijing, but London 2012 will be Joe’s first Paralympics.

The powerlifting team has been strengthening its squad since Beijing. Fiona Lothian, performance director for British Weightlifting, said: “We are delighted that all four athletes who represented Great Britain in Beijing have qualified, in addition to two new athletes.

Today’s announcement brings the current total of ParalympicsGB athletes for London 2012 to 80, nearly a third of the anticipated eventual team size.