Paralympics 2016: The key dates, times and Team GB medal hopefuls you need to know about

We pick out one highlight from every day of competition at the Paralympics

Jonnie Peacock won gold in the men's T44 100m final at London 2012 (Getty)

The Paralympics opening ceremony takes place on Wednesday. Thursday is the first of 11 days of competition, which concludes on September 18. Here we select one daily highlight for each day of the Games.

Day One (Thursday, September 8)

Dame Sarah Storey will bid for her 12th Paralympic gold - a total which would see her surpass Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson as the most successful British female - in the C5 three-kilometres individual pursuit final (21:20 BST).

Day Two (Friday, September 9)

Jonnie Peacock won T44 100m gold at London 2012 and is once again up against a stellar field of amputee sprinters, including Brazil's Alan Oliveira and Jarryd Wallace of the United States (00:00 BST Saturday).

Day Three (Saturday, September 10)

Kadeena Cox, who competes in athletics on day two, is a favourite to win the C4/C5 500m time-trial in the velodrome ahead of Storey. Cox is aiming to become the first Briton to win medals in two sports at one Games since Isabel Barr 28 years ago (21:55 BST).

Day Four (Sunday, September 11)

Former swimmer Lauren Steadman is PT4 world triathlon champion and goes for gold in the event's Paralympic debut at Copacabana beach (14:00 BST).


 Dame Sarah Storey can become Britain's most successful Paralympian on day one 
 (Getty)

Day Five (Monday, September 12)

Ellie Simmonds, who won the first two of her four Paralympic gold medals aged 13 in Beijing, swims in the SM6 200m individual medley at the Aquatics Centre (23:45 BST).

Day Six (Tuesday, September 13)

David Weir won four titles at London 2012 to take his tally to six. He will race in the T54 1500m, an event he regards as the blue riband one for wheelchair racers, determined to defend his title (22:20 BST).

Day Seven (Wednesday, September 14)

Ten-time Paralympic equestrian champion Lee Pearson competes on horse Zion in the mixed championship test, bidding to reclaim the grade Ib title he won at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Games (18:00 BST).


 Ellie Simmonds swims in the SM6 IM on day five 
 (Getty)

Day Eight (Thursday, September 15)

Richard Whitehead will hope to have already defended the T42 200m title he won in London and will bid to add the 100m title in Rio after working on his start (22:15 BST).

Day Nine (Friday, September 16)

Sophie Christiansen won three gold medals at London 2012 and will aim to add to her burgeoning tally with victory in the grade Ia individual freestyle event (18:10 BST).


 David Weir won four gold medals at London 2012 
 (Getty images)

Day 10 (Saturday, September 17)

Storey will ride in the C4/C5 road race, seeking another Paralympic title. She has pedigree on the road, racing in the peloton alongside the best in the world in open competition (13:45 BST).

Day 11 (Sunday, September 18)

Weir won the marathon on the final day of the London 2012 Paralympics for his fourth title of the Games. He will aim to successfully defend the title at Copacabana (16:30 BST).

*All times approximate and based on the schedule on September 6

PA