Checking in with Paralympians: Saskatchewan Para athletes in the news

Athletes looking ahead to future Games
Mark Arendz

Canada’s Paralympians are staying busy, 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: 

Tanya Shevchenko, who had her right leg amputated below the knee in 2017, is aiming to one day earn a berth on the Canadian Paralympic team. Global News in Saskatoon met the Para dressage rider last week.

 

 

Six-time Paralympic Games wheelchair racing champion Lisa Franks is also from Saskatchewan, and she is currently president of the Saskatchewan Adaptive Mountain Bike Club. The club is raising funds to purchase new bikes they can loan out to help encourage people with a disability to try the sport.

 

 

There’s another Ouellet emerging on the Canadian Para running scene. Guillaume, of course, is a world champion and Paralympic medallist, now Benjamin Ouellet – no relation- is making noise as a Games hopeful.

Para nordic skier Mark Arendz, a six-time medallist at the 2018 Paralympic Games, shared his thoughts on an unusual 2020-21 season.

 

 

Wheelchair Basketball Canada recently held a survey to determine its greatest team of all time. The votes are in and the honour goes to … the 2000 national women’s team! The squad won a remarkable third consecutive Paralympic Games gold in Sydney.