Coutya and Gilliver in wheelchair fencing places at Rio 2016

Great Britain has enjoyed success in the Rio cycle, with investment in new talent ensuring a medal at every competition in the qualifying period.

The two athletes are set to make their Paralympic debut in Rio but head to the Games with an impressive array of World Cup titles between them, and each has a silver World Championship medal to their name.

It is a particularly exciting time for the sport, as British fencers have not been in the medals at a Paralympic Games since Caz Walton OBE won gold in the epée at Seoul ’88.

Eighteen year-old Dimitri Coutya said:

“To represent your country at the Paralympic Games is the greatest privilege in our sport and I’ve worked incredibly hard over the last few years to stake my place on the team.

"I am very determined to go out to Rio and show people just what I am capable of achieving, and also to help shine a spotlight on our sport.”

Piers Gilliver, 21, said:

“I am so happy to be part of the ParalympicsGB team for Rio 2016. Many years of hard work has gone towards achieving this goal and I’m pleased that all the hours of training have paid off.”

Today’s announcement takes the number of selected athletes to 182 from 16 sports.

Selected athletes are:

Dimitri Coutya

Home town: Ealing, London

Main training base: London

Piers Gilliver

Home town: Drybrook, Forest of Dean, Gloucester

Main training base: University of Bath