The Rio Paralympics open on September 7, with 11 days of competition to follow.

Here we select some must-see moments from the XV Paralympics.

:: The Irishman who is the fastest Paralympian on the planet

Jason Smyth is the reigning Paralympic 100m & 200m and World Record holder in each.

In 2014, he also won double gold at IPC Athletics European Championships in Swansea, Wales and went on to scoop the T12 100m title at the World Championships in Doha in 2015.

Jason was also crowned the Fastest Paralympian On The Planet when he won at the Rio ‘One year to Go’ celebration event.

:: Dias has Midas touch

Swimmer Daniel Dias will carry the hopes of the home nation. He won nine medals, including four golds, at the 2008 Beijing Games and six golds at London 2012. The 28-year-old is getting better with age and will be determined to be at his best in home water.

:: Double trouble

The spectacular tandem sprint events in cycling are no more, making way for more events on the road. But the one-kilometre time-trial and individual pursuit events are compulsive viewing as two riders and one machine go against the clock.

:: Motoring Zanardi

Former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi won two golds at Brands Hatch four years ago, celebrating his time-trial win by lifting his bike above his head. The Italian will aim to defend his titles in Rio and will be expected to be welcomed in a nation with a passion for motorsport.

:: Murderball mayhem

Rugby sevens made its Olympic debut in Rio and was lauded as a success. Wheelchair rugby, its nearest Paralympic counterpart, is established and features athletes with spinal injuries and similar functional impairments in big collisions. It is commonly known as murderball.

:: Boccia brilliance

At the other end of the spectrum to wheelchair rugby, but no less intense or skilful, boccia is like boules. It is mesmerising and sees some of the most severely impaired athletes at the Paralympics showing the highest degree of accuracy.

:: What a Storey, Dame Sarah

Dame Sarah Storey travels to Rio as an 11-time Paralympic champion, with gold medals in the pool and on the bike. Defend her individual pursuit title on September 8 and she will be Britain’s most successful female Paralympian, with more gold medals than wheelchair racer Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.