Checking in with Paralympians: Athletes in the spotlight

Canada’s Paralympians are staying busy, getting back to training, sharing their stories and opinions on social media, and more. We will check in regularly with what the nation’s Para athletes have been up to and share some of the top highlights here. 

Here’s a quick look at some recent updates: 

One of the big stories this week was the announcement that Olympic rowing legend Silken Laumann provided financial assistance to Canadian Para triathlete Leanne Taylor of Winnipeg. Laumann, who surmounted a serious injury to win bronze at the 1992 Olympics was drawn by Taylor’s amazing story to overcome physical adversity. The story even made the CTV National News.

Brent Lakatos has been a wheelchair racing star for many years on the Canadian team but his Twitter count got its biggest hit yet after his amazing victory Sunday at the London Marathon.

Thank you to everyone for the amazing support. My Twitter has never blown up like this before! Huge thanks to @LondonMarathon for all their work putting on a safe race in these crazy times. I won!!!! https://t.co/w0dbXIXfaH

— Brent Lakatos (@BrentLak) October 4, 2020

 Paralympian Amy Burk stars in the next episode of AMI’s Level Playing Field, and in this sneak preview she explains her competitive persona on the goalball court. Level Playing Field airs Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET on AMI-tv, and episodes can also be also be watched online. 

In this Level Playing Field digital exclusive, we get a sneak peek at Episode 5, as Paralympian @burkamy7 explains why she’s so dominating on the Goalball court. Level Playing Field airs Mondays at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv. @CDNWGoalball https://t.co/P4ZYZXs7Px pic.twitter.com/Q5yGSMQBTL

— AMI (@AccessibleMedia) October 4, 2020

The Canadian Para alpine ski team is currently training hard over in Saas-Fee, Switzerland as it prepares for some (hopefully) World Cup races and eventually the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.

Living for these days spent training hard and ripping down the hill . The @cpastworldcup team has been hard at work over in Saas-Fee, and we are so grateful our teams are back doing what they do best . #CANskiteam pic.twitter.com/HcBLSw8PEB

— Alpine Canada Alpin (@Alpine_Canada) October 2, 2020

Blaise Mutware, a defensive standout for Canada at the Parapan Am Games last year, is now hard at work to solidify his spot on the men’s national wheelchair basketball team for the Tokyo Paralympics.

“My greatest motivation in the sport is #Tokyo2020. I just feel like if I keep working hard enough, I have a good opportunity to represent the team in Japan.”

– Blaise Mutware ♿️ #AthleteSpotlight @ToyotaCanada @CDNParalympics @ONPARANETWORK pic.twitter.com/phADFJwS7g

— Wheelchair Basketball Canada (@WCBballCanada) September 29, 2020

Hosts Benoit Huot and Tessa Virtue are getting ready for the next edition of Team Canada Champion Chats, set for October 28 and featuring Jessica Tuomela and Amanda Rummery in English, and Guillaume Ouellet and Melanie Labelle in French. Learn more and sign up to hear from some of Canada’s very own top Para athletes at http://championchats.olympic.ca. 

We are ready to join @benhuot & @tessavirtue with some @cdnparalympic & @TeamCanada athletes for the Team Canada Champions Chats! This FREE program will change the way your kids engage with learning this fall.
Sign up for the chat on October 28: https://t.co/gmPTxNPdvE pic.twitter.com/BCDbN9yCNE

— CDN Paralympics (@CDNParalympics) September 29, 2020