Canadian Paralympians bring home fond memories of Paris Games

Para swimmer Aurélie Rivard doesn’t hesitate to place Paris among her favorite of the four Games she’s attended so far.

The 28-year-old from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., took gold in the women’s S10 400-metre freestyle, silver in the 100 freestyle and bronze in the 50 freestyle in Paris.

That makes 13 career medals in her career. The 2012 London Games were special for Rivard because she won her first medal; Rio 2016 was her best Games with three gold, two world records, and flag-bearer duties for the Closing Ceremony. At Tokyo, she collected five medals including two gold.

‘’All four Games I’ve attended were all incredible for different reasons,’’ Rivard told Montreal radio station 98.5. ‘’It was a different context for me in Paris. I was older with more expectations. The work was harder but the rewards were even more satisfying.’’

What every athlete, including veterans like Rivard will remember of course were the sparkling crowds and overall ambiance at the Paris events.

Fans in the stands kept their focus on the competition; it wasn’t necessary to plead for the spectators to be louder; many venues like the Stade de France required a 20-minute walk from the metro but still thousands poured in filling the 80,000 seat stadium most nights and even some morning sessions.

‘’The organization of the Games was incredible, and the atmosphere was amazing,’’ Rivard said. ‘’Even strolling in the city, we had great experiences with the locals. We saw another side of the French people. Their festive side and how emotionally attached they were to the Paralympic Games.’’

Wheelchair racer Austin Smeenk was celebrated by Oro-Medonte, Ont., mayor Randy Greenlaw along with Jesse Zesseu, Zachary Gingras, and thrower Charlotte Bolton.

Smeenk, at his third Games, won his first two career Paralympic medals with gold in the T34 800m and bronze in the 100. Zesseu took silver in the F37 discus.

Smeenk, 27, won’t forget what went into that golden performance on that Saturday morning in Paris.

“I literally put the bronze medal under my bed and didn’t look at it and just tried to stay as calm, cool and collected as I could about what was coming up and not be too high about what had just gone on,” Smeenk told CBC. “It feels fantastic. A lot of hard work went into it. So, it feels, I don’t know, like riding a snowmobile in perfect conditions.’’

Most of the 126 Canadian athletes didn’t return with a medal around their neck.

Priscilla Gagné couldn’t repeat her silver medal performance from Tokyo in women’s judo but that didn’t deter the city of Sarnia from giving a big welcome home to the graceful and charming visually impaired athlete.

“I have peace with my career,” Gagné told the Sarnia Observer. “I know how I did. My life doesn’t end on that stage, so I’m excited for what’s happening now and what’s next. The first thing I’m looking forward to is being here with family.’’

Para canoeist Mathieu St-Pierre of Shawinigan, Que., was hoping to fare better than the sixth place he produced in the men’s VL2 200-metre. However, his ears are still ringing from the Paris crowds.

“For the qualifying race on Friday, you couldn’t hear a thing on the start line,’’ he recalled to l’Hebdo du St-Maurice. ‘’There were thousands of people. The atmosphere was unbelievable, it was thrilling! The people in town were asking lots of questions and were interested in Paralympic sports.’’