Brianna Hennessy wins Silver, Canada’s first-ever Para canoe medal

PARIS – At her second Paralympic Games in Paris, Brianna Hennessy has won a silver medal, Canada’s first-ever in Para Canoe, in the Women’s va’a single 200m VL2 final.

Hennessy’s first career Paralympic Games medal performance improved on her fifth place finish at the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, and was consistent with her three-straight silver medal finishes at the Para canoe world championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

The 39-year-old placed first in her heat with a time of 1:02.64 to move straight to the final race, and posted a better time of 1:00.12 in the final to claim the silver.

Paralympic record holder Emma Wiggs of Great Britain took home the gold with a time of 58.88, while Australia’s Susan Siepel claimed bronze with a time of 1:01.39.

A strong start for Hennessy kept her in second position for the majority of the race, attempting to chase down Wiggs for the gold, who would win her second consecutive gold medal in the VL2.

The Ottawa canoeist was visibly emotional during the medal ceremony after the loss of her mother, Norma in 2023. “I knew when she passed away, she was passing a torch to me,” she told CBC following her final race. “I feel like this represents that, and we did it together.”

Before picking up the paddle and trying Para canoe, Hennessy was introduced to wheelchair rugby, even playing for the Ontario provincial team. It was then teammate Patrice Dagenais who introduced her to the sport during the pandemic.

Hennessy will compete in the women’s kayak single 200m KL1 semi-final on Sunday after finishing fourth in her heat with a time of 59.02.