Home

Tokyo talk emerges for globetrotting Canadian Para athletes

 

OTTAWA – Canadian Para athletes are globetrotting this summer to compete at major events including eight world championships. For some, these worlds will be an opportunity to gain qualifying points, maybe even early spots for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. 

For others, these competitions are a chance to test their mettle against the world’s best, gauge where they stand and determine what they need to improve over the next two seasons.

Here is a brief summary of this summer’s major events for our Para athletes.

Mark Arendz lives the power of sport

 

OTTAWA – When he was a youngster in school, Mark Arendz could not hide his disability. It was at the age of seven that he lost his left arm above the elbow in a farming accident in his native Prince Edward Island.

However there was one way that Arendz could show that missing an arm was not going to be a deterrence in his life.

‘’Sport showed my abilities not my disability.’’

Jack Leitch is ready to take on new challenges

Jack Leitch recently announced his retirement from Para alpine skiing following a successful career in the sport. Leitch had been acting as Mac Marcoux’s guide for the past two years with the National Para Alpine skiing team. 

During the 2016-2017 season, the duo won four gold medals and one silver at the 2017 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships in Tarvisio, Italy. They competed together at the World Cup Final in March 2017, claiming the title of World Cup season downhill champions. 

Weekend roundup: Cyclists headline strong weekend for Canadian Para athletes

Gold medals for Moreau, Sametz and Gautier at Para cycling World Cup

EMMEN, The Netherlands – Double Paralympic Games medallist Charles Moreau of Victoriaville, Que., Michael Sametz of Calgary and Shelley Gautier of Toronto all won gold medals this past weekend at the second stop on the Para cycling World Cup circuit.

Moreau took the men’s H3 (handcycle) 16 kilometre race in 23 minutes and 50.58 seconds for his second World Cup podium this season. He was 17 seconds ahead of runner-up Jean-François Deberg of Belgium. There were 32 entries.

From boxing to boards Sandrine Hamel is on track for 2022

 

OTTAWA – Sandrine Hamel admits that she prefers to punch in tickets for major Games rather than to trade punches with opponents.

That’s been a big trade-off for Hamel since she made a decision to focus on Para snowboarding. Her rise in the sport has been nothing short of phenomenal and she capped 2018 with two fifth-place finishes at the Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.

Austin Smeenk not fooled by strong 2018 results

 

OTTAWA – When you look at Austin Smeenk’s results this year, you would assume he is almost having a breakthrough season and emerging as one of the best young Canadian wheelchair racers on the international circuit.

But after he completed his races, which included two victories, on Friday at the 2018 Canadian Track and Field Championships, Smeenk seems far from satisfied at the personal level with his performances.

Paralympians Recognized in Canada Day Honours

Wheelchair Basketball great Chantal Benoit was appointed to the Order of Canada for her contributions to the sport of wheelchair basketball and her advocacy of inclusive sport. Benoit, a native of Beloeil, Que., was among those named as an officer to the Order of Canada by the Governor General on June 29.

The Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation by individuals from all sectors of Canadian society.

Finding the Next Generation of Paralympic Champions

The Canadian Paralympic Committee has kicked off their search for future athletes with Paralympian Search events in Victoria (May 26) and Montreal (June 9).  

Paralympian Search is a one-day Para athlete identification event designed to uncover athletes with Paralympic potential and provide them with the high-performance sport resources they need to achieve their podium dreams.

Subscribe to