The Rio Paralympics has ended, but not without a wonderful new set of champions, incredible journeys and new feats of endurance and excellence. To celebrate such a festival of sport, and my love of photography, have my favourite images as chosenfrom the Guardian’s Paralympic page. You can also find other images on the Olympics on my blog, with a focus on the sporting and the stylish.
Alexandre Loureiro (Getty Images) wonderfully captured Marcel Hug of Switzerland in the gold medal race. Loureiro would beat Australia’s Kurt Fearnley in the T54 marathon.
Bob Martin for Ois/AFP/Getty Images fully maximises the opportunity of angles and reflections when seeing the women’s 100m butterfly in the S9 heats.
Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball player Adam Lancia kisses his wife Jamey Jewells after the playoff match between Canada and China in this moving photograph by Ueslei Marcelino of Reuters.
Italy’s silver medal winner Alex Zanardi, one of the most famous figures of the games, and South Africa’s gold medal winner Ernst van Dyk, are caught celebrating at the end of the men’s hand-cycling road race. Mauro Pimentel of AP caught the fantastic moment.
Christophe Simon (AFP/Getty Images) uses his technical expertise to stylishly show athletes competing in the the women’s 5000m – T54 final.
Simon Bruty of OIS and IoC managed to spot American Jeff Fabry practising with a gorgeous background before the mixed team compound open archery semi-finals at the Sambódromo.
Fireworks are perfect for so many occasions, including a closing ceremony. Simon Bruty for OIS/IOC/AFP/Getty Images covered the majestic sight here.
The golden delight of the Paralympic cauldron in the closing ceremony was taken by Yasuyoshi Chiba of AFP/ Getty Images
Alex Raphael 
Love the one of the archer.
I’ve never seen those colours like that before.
Amazing photos and inspiring post.
Thanks. That’s exactly what I was going for.
You’re very welcome
The Paralympics were brilliant from start to finish, and these photos capture it perfectly.
Thanks. Did you have a favourite event? Any moment in particular stand out?
The table tennis player with no hands was just unbelievable. He was on ‘The Last Leg’ for C4, and he demonstrated how he ate M&Ms…by tossing them up with his feet!
I know the one you mean 🙂 I saw that show. What a great way of doing it. Did you see many of The Last Leg. I caught about half. Liam Malone was my favourite guest. What a star!
I probably caught about half too. The show is fantastic at normalizing disability. The banter, success and inspiration in every episode was great to watch. Malone was brilliant! 🙂
I hope he gets his own show sometime. And Alex’s speech on Alex Zanardi was the other highlight for me.
These are pretty cool, especially the one with the kiss. Wow.
That one really is a lovely shot.
Excellent window of these Paralympics which were absolutely fantastic…
There was a lot of worry beforehand but it was a fantastic event.
I feel the same, moreover that (am speaking only for France) all the fuss which was dedicated to the other athletes has strictly nothing to compare with the welcome Paralympics athletes had when they came back from Rio. This I strictly do not approve. I don’ pretend to change the World do I…
I hope that changes soon. I’m hoping to see the London parade that will have both the British Olympians and Paralympians. I went to the last one and it was great.
I wish it was the same here… Hope you will post some photos.
The Paralympics are really inspiring and these photos do a great job of showing that.
The Paralympics have come such a long way. It seemed to change around Sydney and has got more and more popular. Sarah Storey, Ellie Symonds, Tanni Grey-Thompson, David Weir, Johnnie Peacock and Hannah Cockcroft are all household names and that list will only get bigger.
I think it’s a marvellous thing.
Awesome shots Alex! Ooooh that pic of the husband & wife kissing is very moving indeed, glad to see you highlighting the Paralympic!
That was just a perfect photo. The Paralympics was great. So many incredible moments. Have you heard of the show The Last Leg? It was a show that runs alongside the Paralympics and has an irreverent charm that has been a huge success.
moving picture… love the picture and these people are so inspiring 🙂
Thank you so much 🙂