The 2024 Paralympic Games will kick off next week in Paris.
A former SIU-Carbondale student will be among the over 4,000 athletes competing from around the world.
The athletes, all who have a disability, will compete in 549 medal events across 22 sports.
45-year-old Chuck Melton from Richview in Washington County will be competing in wheelchair rugby. In 2002, Melton acquired a C-7 spinal cord injury from a diving accident.
This will be the third Paralympics for the former SIU-Carbondale student. He already owns two silver medals from his previous appearances in 2016 and 2020.
The Paralympics run August 28 through September 8 in Paris.
