The Canadian Paralympic Sport Awards recognizes outstanding athlete and team performances at the Paralympic Games. Here are the winners from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games:
BEST PARALYMPIC DEBUT BY A FEMALE ATHLETE
kate o'brien, para cycling
It was an outstanding Paralympic debut for Para cyclist Kate O’Brien at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
O’Brien, a Rio 2016 Olympian, raced to silver in the women’s C4-5 500m time trial in track cycling. The winner, Kadeena Cox of Great Britain, broke O’Brien’s world record from January 2020 to claim top spot on the podium in 34.812 seconds. O’Brien was just behind in 35.830.
A year-and-a-half earlier, O’Brien had burst onto the international Para cycling scene with a world record and world title in the 500m time trial. Her performance in Tokyo was a continuation of that success and showed she is an athlete to watch for years to come.
BEST PARALYMPIC DEBUT BY A MALE ATHLETE
nate riech, para athletics
Heading into his first Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Nate Riech was definitely a frontrunner in the men’s T38 1500m race. A gold medallist in the event at the 2018 world championships and 2019 Parapan Am Games, he had consistently lowered the world record leading into Tokyo.
And he delivered at the Games, winning gold in wet conditions in a time of three minutes and 58.92 seconds to add Paralympic gold to his impressive resume. He was over four seconds faster than the runner-up.
The medal was Canada’s fifth and final gold of the Tokyo Games.
BEST TEAM PERFORMANCE
women's sitting volleyball
Canada’s women’s sitting volleyball team first qualified for the Paralympic Games at Rio 2016, finishing seventh. In Tokyo, the squad upgraded that result and narrowly missed the podium with fourth place.
Earning their way into the bronze-medal match, Canada dropped the first set to Brazil before evening the score at one-set apiece. The squad then held a 21-15 lead in the third before Brazil powered back. Bronze medallists at the Rio 2016 Games, the Brazilians closed out the match in four sets 3-1 to win their second straight Paralympic medal.
It was an exciting tournament for the Canadian team, showing they are a force on the international scene. With the fourth-place finish, it was also Canada’s highest team sport result at the Tokyo Games.
BEST MALE ATHLETE
brent lakatos, para athletics
Brent Lakatos was one of the busiest athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, racing in six events ranging in distance from a 100-metre sprint to the marathon.
Tokyo was the first Games the wheelchair racer added long distance events to his repertoire, and he ended up capturing four medals, all silver. He sat atop the second step of the podium in the men’s T54 5000m, T53 400m, T53 100m, and T53 1500m.
Competing in his fifth Paralympic Games, Lakatos was ultimately named Canada’s Closing Ceremony flag bearer. He has now filled his trophy case with 11 Paralympic medals – one gold, eight silver, and two bronze. In Tokyo, he also officially became Canada’s most decorated male wheelchair racer, surpassing André Viger’s 10 medals.
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
aurelie rivard, para swimming
One of the world’s very best Para swimmers for years now, Aurélie Rivard certainly showed she is still at the top of her game with five medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the most of any Canadian athlete at the Games.
Rivard claimed gold medals in the women’s S10 100m freestyle and 400m freestyle, both in world record times. She added silver in the 100m backstroke as well as bronze in the 50m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay.
Rivard now has captured 10 Paralympic medals through her three Games appearances (London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020).
tim frick paralympic coach excellence award
heather hennigar, para athletics
As Athletic Canada’s West Hub Lead, Hennigar has been credited with shaping a winning mindset and setting a world-class, safe, and supportive integrated training environment that has benefited all athletes. Leading into the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, she supported her athletes in having access to the best possible training conditions under challenging circumstances in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her outstanding leadership as a Para athletics coach shined brightly in Tokyo. She coached three athletes at the Games, with Nate Riech winning a gold medal in Paralympic record time, Zachary Gingras taking home a bronze, and Thomas Normandeau achieving a Top 8 finish.
