Medal bonanza for Canadian wheelchair fencers at Americas Championships

(File photo courtesy of Trinity Lowthian)

SAO PAULO, Brazil – Trinity Lowthian of Ottawa won two gold medals and a bronze this past weekend as Canadian wheelchair fencers rolled to the podium eight times (three gold, one silver, four bronze) in individual competition at the Americas Cup.

The 22-year-old Lowthian triumphed in the women’s B Sabre and epee plus a bronze in foil as she continues her road to compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games this summer in Paris. With the strong performances, Canada earned some valuable points towards gaining quota spots for the Games.

Also on the podium were Ryan Rousell of Saskatoon with gold in men’s A Sabre and bronze in epee, Amber Briar of St. Catharines, Ont. with silver in women’s A epee and bronze in foil, and veteran Sylvie Morel of Pincourt, Que. with bronze in the women’s A Sabre.

In sabre, Lowthian bounced back from two losses in the preliminary round to defeat Francia Rojas of Venezuela 15-8 in the semifinals then upset defending champion Monica Santos of Brazil 15-6 in the championship match. She defeated Rojas in the epee final 15-0.

‘’I was just fencing my game and I had faced Rojas before so I knew what to do and just stuck with it,’’ said Lowthian. ‘’I also had a little bit of fun trying new things so I enjoyed that.’’

As a teenager Lowthian dreamed of going to the Olympics and competed in biathlon, water polo and triathlon. However her world changed in 2018 when she was diagnosed with a digestive disease that kept her in hospital for two years.

In May 2022 she joined the Ottawa Fencing Club and by October that year she was at her first international competition, the Pan Am Championships. She won four medals. Last year at the U23 worlds, she won the bronze in epee.

Rousell, a 2020 Paralympian, won his four matches in sabre finishing off Carlos Freitas of Argentina 15-2.