Canada concludes Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games with 52 medals

Santiago, November 26, 2023 – The Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games officially came to an end on Sunday, with the Canadian Parapan Am Team capping the Games with five medals won on the final day of competition before Alison Levine carried the flag for Canada at the Closing Ceremony.

In Para badminton, William Roussy claimed silver in the men’s singles SL3 draw while Yuka Chokyu took bronze in the women’s singles WH1 tournament as did Bernard Lapointe in men’s singles WH2.

Canada’s Para cyclists added two more, with Alexandre Hayward winning silver in the men’s C1-3 road race and Nathan Clement capturing bronze in the mixed T1-2 road race.

Canada finishes the Games with 52 medals, sixth in the overall standings by total medals.  

OVERALL MEDAL TOTAL

GOLD – 9
SILVER – 15
BRONZE – 28
TOTAL – 52

CLICK HERE for the complete list of medals won by the Santiago 2023 Canadian Parapan Am Team.

Josh Vander Vies, Co-Chef de Mission, Santiago 2023 Canadian Parapan Am Team:

“What a spectacular Parapan Am Games. The past nine days have truly been an outstanding display of athletic achievement and disability pride. It has been a joy to share in the moments of triumph and defeat, and above all witness the athletes’ pride in who they are, in what they have accomplished, and in being part of this Canadian Parapan Am Team. There is no better stage for showcasing the extraordinary impact of sport, and I commend each athlete, coach, and support staff team member for the success of these Games.”

Karolina Wisniewska, Co-Chef de Mission, Santiago 2023 Canadian Parapan Am Team:

“Congratulations to each and every member of the Canadian Parapan Am Team for your performances, your achievements, and all your hard work here at the Games. There were so many moments to celebrate, and everyone’s dedication and true love of sport sparkled throughout the entire competition. Behind every performance is a unique journey, and this Games had no shortage of incredible stories to share about the power of sport. It was an absolute pleasure to be part of it all, I look forward to doing it all again in Paris!”

Karen O’Neill, CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee:

“We are proud to be wrapping up a successful Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games. Not only did we have much to celebrate on the field of play, this was also a superb showcase of the transformative impact sport can have in creating a more inclusive and accessible world. These Games were also an important step leading into next summer’s Paralympic Games as we seek to best prepare our athletes, coaches, and staff and also provide the best experience possible. As we look ahead to the next nine months leading into Paris, we have so many successes, learnings, and stories to build on from here as we seek to continue to elevate Paralympic sport and Paralympic athletes across Canada.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Medals by sport: Para athletics (12), Para cycling (12), Para swimming (10), boccia (6), Para badminton (4), wheelchair basketball (2), goalball (2), Para archery (1), Para table tennis (1), wheelchair rugby (1), wheelchair tennis (1)
• 82 athletes are going home with a medal
• Alexandre Hayward captured the most medals for Canada with four – one in each event he raced (two gold, one silver, one bronze)
• Hayward and Alison Levine both led the way for Canada in gold medals, contributing two apiece.
• 13 athletes are multi-medallists: Alexandre Hayward (4), Tyson MacDonald (3), Nathan Clement (2), Alison Levine (2), Iulian Ciobanu (2), Lance Cryderman (2), Danik Allard (2), Anthony Bouchard (2), Sheriauna Haase (2), Jesse Zesseu (2), Fernando Lu (2), Mel Pemble (2), and Mike Sametz (2).
• 31 athletes were first-time Parapan Am medallists, with 28 of them doing so in their first appearance at the Games  
• Nathan Clement won his first Parapan Am medals in the sport of Para cycling (gold, bronze). He previously captured bronze in Para swimming at the Toronto 2015 Games
• A bronze medallist in Santiago, Para archer Kyle Tremblay earned a quota spot for Canada in the men’s compound open for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
• Alison Levine and Iulian Ciobanu clinched a quota spot for Canada in boccia BC4 pairs for Paris 2024
• The Canadian women’s goalball team secured a place at Paris 2024 with a gold medal victory
• Three Canadian teams who needed wins in Santiago to qualify for Paris 2024 will now play in last-chance qualifying tournaments next year: wheelchair rugby (March in New Zealand), women’s wheelchair basketball (April in Japan), and men’s wheelchair basketball (April in France)
• The oldest and youngest members of the Canadian Parapan Am Team both won medals. Stephanie Chan, age 66, won bronze in Para table tennis while Fernando Lu, age 16, captured a silver and bronze in Para swimming
• Rob Shaw, Canada’s co-Opening Ceremony flag bearer, captured a silver medal in the quad singles wheelchair tennis tournament, while his co-flag bearer Shelley Gautier posted fifth and sixth place finishes in Para road cycling
• Medallists by province: Ontario (32), British Columbia (15), Quebec (14), Alberta (9), New Brunswick (4), Saskatchewan (3), Manitoba (2), Nova Scotia (1), Prince Edward Island (1), Newfoundland & Labrador (1)