Barrier-busting women mixing it with men in wheelchair rugby

Sarah Adam is blazing trails in France’s capital as the first American woman to compete in the most rough-and-tumble of the 22 sports at the Paralympics

Josh Wheeler and Sarah Adam of Team United States of America react against Team Great Britain during a wheelchair rugby semifinal match on day four of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at Champs-de-Mars Arena on September 01, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

When told by the stadium announcer that they were witnessing history, the Paris spectators roared and applauded. Not that the woman making history actually noticed: Sarah Adam was far too occupied — merrily slamming her wheelchair into other players, all of them men, and zipping across the court to score try after try.

Adam is blazing trails in France’s capital as the first American woman to compete in the most rough-and-tumble of the 22 sports at the Paralympics — wheelchair rugby.