The London 2012 100 metre T44 silver medallist, who visited the Rio 2016 headquarters yesterday, is scheduled to go up against the best competitors from different Paralympic categories with a qualifying round taking place tomorrow and the final on Monday (September 7).

Browne was the world record holder in the T44 class with a time of 10.75sec up until last month and has not lost a competitive race since July 2013. 

Among his competitors in the 100m race will be compatriot David Brown, the 100m T11 visually impaired world record holder, as well as Ireland’s visually impaired sprinter Jason Smyth, dubbed the fastest Paralympian in the world, and Australia’s Evan O’Hanlon, world record holder in the 100m T38 cerebral palsy class.

Completing the line-up is Brazil’s Petrucio Ferreira, the 200m T47 amputee world record holder, and fellow countryman Felipe Gomes, the reigning Paralympic champion in the 200m T11 visual impairment class.

Rio's iconic Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas will provide the backdrop for the race, which comes with just over one month to go until the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Doha. 

Browne faces strong competition for a first Paralympic gold medal next year, with fellow US athlete Jarryd Wallace, Brazil’s Alan Fonteles Oliveira, Germany’s Felix Streng and Great Britain’s Jonnie Peacock, the reigning 100m T44 Paralympic champion, his main rivals.

"It’s going to be a very different situation to London," he said.

"There are five or six guys running under 11 seconds and new guys coming out at every other meet.

"But I’m looking to compete in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, and three gold medals is my target.

"I know Alan is the hometown favourite, but I am looking to do some great things."

Browne has also competed in Rio twice before, at the 2014 and 2015 Mano a Mano events and believes his experiences will stand him in good stead at next year’s Paralympics.

"Rio is very recognisable to me and I’m familiar with the weather and the people and their customs," he said.

"I feel this will give me a big advantage in 2016.

"A lot of my competitors have never been to Rio, so they don’t quite know what to expect.

"But I will be coming confident and ready to go."

There will also be a women's 100m race held with Cuba's Omara Durand, gold medallist in the 100m T12 at last month's Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games, the favourite. 

Durand, who clocked a time of 11.64sec in the Canadian city to take the title of the world's fastest female Para-athlete, will compete against team mate Yunidis Castillo, Cuba’s most decorated Paralympian and the T47 world record holder with a time of 11.95, and home favourite Terezinha Guilhermina, a winner of three Paralympic and eight world titles. 

In addition to the 100m finals, a Paralympic festival is set to take place on Monday, 365 days prior to the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony. 

The event, due to be staged on the same day tickets to the Paralympics go on sale, will feature a range of sporting activities, involving some top Brazilian and international stars, as well as cultural and educational attractions.



Related stories
September 2015: Sir Philip confident polluted Rio 2016 venues will be "fit for purpose" with Paralympic Games just over a year away
August 2015: Paralympic festival to mark One Year To Go until Rio 2016
August 2015: Tickets for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games to cost as little as $3 as record 3.3 million set to go on sale