Austin
Smeenk

Wheelchair racer Austin Smeenk continues to make progress each season.

In 2024, he is having the best season of his career. In June at a Grand Prix in Paris, Smeenk broke the world record in the T34 400m clocking 48.06 seconds and the 800m with a 1:35.59.

He was a double medallist at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships, capturing silver in the 100m T34, and a bronze in the 400m T34. He narrowly missed the podium in the 800m T34, finishing fourth. He finished fifth in the 800m T34 at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

In 2019, Smeenk lowered Canadian records in the 100m, 400m, 800m and 1500m and capped the year with three top-five finishes at the IPC World Championships including fourth in the 800m.

In 2018 he kicked off the track season with silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m in the T34 wheelchair race at the Swiss Open.

He neared the world championship podium in 2017 with top-five finishes in the 100m and 200m. This came a year after he made his Paralympic debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he made two finals in the 100m (6th) and 800m (8th).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2016, 2020 Paralympic Games… 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023 IPC World Championships

PERSONAL

Born with spastic paraplegia, a hereditary disease that causes progressive stiffness and contraction in the lower limbs. He’s able to walk short distances, ride a bicycle to go further distances and stand-up snowboard…  He has participated in many other sports, including sailing and sledge hockey…  Electromechanical engineering technology student…

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

• 2023 World Championships 100m 2nd
• 2023 World Championships 400m 3rd
• 2020 Paralympic Games 800m 5th
• 2020 Paralympic Games 100m 7th
• 2019 IPC World Championships 800m 4th
• 2019 IPC World Championships 100m 5th
• 2019 IPC World Championships 400m 5th
• 2018 Swiss Grand Prix 100m 2nd
• 2018 Swiss Grand Prix 200m 3rd
• 2017 IPC World Championships 100m 4th
• 2017 IPC World Championships 200m 5th
• 2017 IPC World Championships 400m 6th
• 2017 IPC World Championships 800m 8th
• 2016 Paralympic Games 100m 6th
• 2016 Paralympic Games 800m 8th
• 2015 IPC World Championships 400m 11th
• 2013 IPC World Championships 100m 8th
• 2013 IPC World Championships 200m 7th
• 2013 IPC World Championships 400m 6th
• 2013 IPC World Championships 800m 8th