Checking in with Paralympians: Para athletes get recognition

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. 

One of Canada’s top Para shooters Lyne Tremblay has gotten creative during COVID-19 to keep sharp and maintain her chances for a medal at the Paralympic Games next summer. Radio-Canada talked with Tremblay and her support staff.

Canada’s Samuel Charron is regarded as one of the top Para soccer players in the world. He scored 43 goals in 50 international games and was named the MVP at a tournament in Seville last year.

Samuel Charron, une vedette méconnue du para soccer https://t.co/8WHnbTRYTU pic.twitter.com/HXxtIJVZcj

— LeDroit (@LeDroitca) December 12, 2020

The International Paralympic Committee recently announced the first 18 medal events that will be included in the sports program at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy. One of those is a new event – mixed doubles wheelchair curling – which got CBC’s curling guru Devin Heroux particularly excited.

JUST IN:

Wheelchair mixed doubles curling added to 2026 Paralympics.

Another chance for Canada to add to its medal haul at Paralympics — more importantly more exposure for great wheelchair curlers.

My story: https://t.co/LZABxnsS4v #cbccurl @CBCOlympics @CDNParalympics

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) December 16, 2020

Canadian world champion Para runner Nathan Riech was featured on the IPC’s website in a feature by Canadian journalist Teddy Katz. Riech is continuing an incredible family tradition of sports excellence.

“I’m going to Tokyo to win the race. I will never run for second or third.”

1500m World Champion Nate Riech on his racing mentality. @NateGraywolf @CDNParalympics https://t.co/c0sw5g3vlK

— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) December 19, 2020

Para swimmers Clémence Paré and Jacob Brayshaw, along with their respective mentors Mike Edey and Renate Terpstra, are among the 55 athlete-coach pairs who each received $10,000 in funding to help them along their journey.

Para swimming pairs among 2020 Petro-Canada FACE grant recipientshttps://t.co/0O1R1vN5me
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Deux duos de paranatation parmi les récipiendaires de la bourse FACE de Petro-Canada 2020https://t.co/G2ahmiyLnh pic.twitter.com/ldtydBwsuh

— Swimming Canada / Natation Canada (@SwimmingCanada) December 18, 2020

Racing at the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium a couple weekends ago, Liam Stanley crossed the finish line in the T37 5,000 metres in 15:54.5 – a world record. As he awaits ratification of his new world record, he spoke with Athletics Canada about the feat. 

There is a short list of athletes who hold world records. Pending ratification, Liam Stanley is going to add his name to that exclusive list. Hear from the man who set the track on fire with an historic run.
EN: https://t.co/fpvX7hHUud
FR: https://t.co/I6x8b9zGRM pic.twitter.com/womNvPCb9U

— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) December 16, 2020