Maarten Duif leads Canada to four medals at Para cycling World Cup

ABRUZZO, Italy – For the second weekend in a row Maarten Duif of Carleton Place, Ont., took silver in the men’s handcycle 1 (H1) road race and bronze in the time trial in World Cup Road Para cycling highlighting a four-medal Canadian performance.

Also, on the podium for Canada at the third and last World Cup stop for this season were world champion and Paralympic Games medallist Alexandre Hayward of Quispamsis, N.B., with silver in the men’s conventional bike (C3) time trial and Jessica Law of Vancouver in the women’s C5 road race.

More important competitions are on the horizon this summer for the Canadian Para cyclists including the Commonwealth Games in July, the world road championships September 4-7 in Huntsville, Alabama and the world track championships in the fall in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.

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Wheelchair curling champion coaches Canada to silver

Mark Ideson, who skipped Canada to the gold medal at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in March, enjoyed more success this past week coaching Canada to the silver medal at the mixed doubles world junior curling championships.

The Canadian pair of Brooklyn Ideson (Mark’s daughter) and Owen Henry, playing out of Ilderton, Ont., lost 6-5 in the final to Japan.

“If there’s one thing my dad has taught me throughout his curling journey it’s that you wear your medal with pride no matter the colour,’’ said Brooklyn Ideson.

Ideson and Henry won their eight previous games, going undefeated through pool play and two playoff matches before the last-shot loss to Japan.

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Canadians overseas for international assignments in Para triathlon and Para canoe

Paralympic Games bronze medallist Leanne Taylor of Winnipeg is Canada’s sole entry at the World Para Triathlon Series stop this Saturday (May 16) in Yokokama, Japan. À

Taylor, third at the 2024 Paris Games, is returning to competition after sitting out the 2025 season for maternity leave.  

In addition to her medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games, Taylor has 11 international medals including three victories. She enters the 2026 season ranked 11^th in the world.

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Para canoe

Four Canadian Para canoers get into action this week at the second stop on the World Cup circuit in Brandenburg, Germany.

The Canadians are led by Paralympic Games silver medallist Brianna Hennessy of Ottawa, two-time Paralympians Erica Scarff of Mississauga, Ont., and Mathieu St-Pierre of Shawinigan, Que., and Gabe Ferron-Bouius of Ottawa.

“The depth of performance we witnessed at the national team trials and the momentum of our Paracanoe team from last season, is a strong signal of where this program is headed,’’ said Ian Mortimer, CKC’s Chief Technical Officer.

‘’These athletes have earned their nominations through hard work, and we are confident they will represent Canada with pride on the international stage.’’

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Also

Fourteen-time Paralympic Winter Games medallist Mark Arendz will be among the four honorary degree recipients at the 2026 University of Prince Edward Island convocation ceremonies this week celebrating more than 1,300 graduates in the UPEI Class of 2026.