Renee Foessel earns best throw in two seasons for discus title
OTTAWA – Renee Foessel wants to make sure she never finishes fourth again at a Paralympic Games.
The 23-year-old from Orangeville, Ont. took a big step in that direction as she won the women’s discus in Para athletics competition at the 2018 Canadian Track and Field Championships.
‘’Finishing fourth in Rio was not fun,’’ said Foessel, who recently graduated in social sciences and criminal justice at Humber College. ‘’I’m working on some new techniques but it was nice today to use my old technique today and get the win.’’
Weekend para sport round-up: World records in Berlin, silver for Daniel, wheelchair basketball teams tuning up
World record for Canada’s Nate Riech at Berlin Grand Prix
BERLIN – Nate Riech celebrated Canada Day weekend in grand style at the Berlin Grand Prix Para athletics competition with world record performances in the T38 800-m and 1500-m.
Riech, who currently resides in Chandler, Arizona, clocked one minute and 57.78 seconds in the 800-m eclipsing the previous world mark of 1:58.87 set by South African Malcolm Pringe in 2004. In the 1500, Riech finished in 3:57.92 smashing the 4:05.11 set by Deon Kenzie of Australia last year.
Five to watch in Para athletics at Canadian track and field championships
OTTAWA – Canada’s biggest names in Para athletics, including Athletics Canada’s 2017 Athlete of the Year Brent Lakatos, are set to compete at the Canadian track and field championships July 3-8 at Terry Fox Stadium in Ottawa.
The Para athletics events are scheduled from July 4-6 with competition scheduled for both the morning and evening sessions. The full schedule and ticket info is available here.
Natalie Wilkie leaps from Next Gen prospect to star in PyeongChang
At the mere age of 17, Natalie Wilkie – the youngest member of the Canadian Paralympic Team – stood atop the podium at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.
“That was pretty crazy. I didn’t believe it at first, I was only 17 and this is my first Paralympics. I just went into the race determined to do my best and see what happens. It was pretty emotional winning gold just 18 months after my accident.”
Canada’s Duncan Campbell first inductee into IWRF Hall of Fame
(Paralympic.org) Winnipeg’s Duncan Campbell, one of the original pioneers of wheelchair rugby, is the first inductee to the newly-established International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) Hall of Fame.
Campbell, fondly known as the “Quad Father,” is one of the original founders of wheelchair rugby in 1976.
To retire or not to retire? That is the question for Greg Westlake
OTTAWA – Greg Westlake won’t spill the beans on his future.
But the 31-year-old captain of Canada’s Para ice hockey team is seriously contemplating what’s next. He has competed at four Paralympic Winter Games and placed first (2006), second (2018), third (2014) and fourth (2010).
Parasport Jumpstart Fund brings youth movement to Y Penguins Aquatic Club
KINGSTON, Ont. – Vicki Keith has coached swimming for people with a disability for nearly 18 years at the Y Penguins Aquatic Club. What she noticed with the Parasport Jumpstart Fund was an increase in the number of young kids joining the club.
Weekend round-up: Scarff wraps herself in gold
Erica Scarff makes sparkling season debut at Para canoe national team selections
MONTREAL – Para canoe athletes showed some impressive and inspiring performances this past weekend at the National Team Selections which were held at the Olympic Basin in Montreal.
Paralympian Erica Scarff of Toronto placed first in the Para K1 Women 200m with a time of 54.9 seconds while on the men’s side, Zacharie Lauzière-Fitzgerald from Sherbrooke won with a time of 44.7 seconds.
Parasport Jumpstart Fund helps Para ice hockey community grow in Manitoba
Every week, 60 participants of all age groups and abilities strap into their sledges and hit the ice in Winnipeg for some fun and exciting Para ice hockey action.
Sledge Hockey Manitoba has created its own community in Winnipeg. Run through the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, the program was one of the recipients of a Parasport Jumpstart Fund grant last year. As a not-for-profit organization, funding support enables the program to maintain viability and grow, such as purchasing more equipment for its growing participant base.
Dedicated coach brings fast results for Canadian riders
Only added to the Paralympic Winter Games program in 2014, Para snowboard is still very much in its early stages internationally.
But with help from the CPC NextGen fund, a solid program is now instilled for development.
Dave Balne feels the consistent presence of a dedicated coach at competitions and training camps for Canada’s developmental team in Para snowboard is a key component of CPC’s NextGen funding.
‘’The impact of the NextGen funding has been massive,’’ confirmed Balne, Canada Snowboard’s NextGen coach since 2016.