Para sport update: Canadian powerlifters excited about future after successful international showing

MEXICO CITY- Canada has not sent a powerlifter to the Paralympic Games since Kenneth Doyle finished fourth in the men’s 82.5-kilogram division at Athens 2004.

But there is renewed optimism that the country could soon return to the international spotlight.

Three Canadians were among a strong field of 180 athletes from 20 nations this past weekend who competed for valuable ranking points towards LA28 at the Parapan American Open in Mexico City.

Tabetha Telford of British Columbia says the sport is gaining momentum in Canada, with athletes setting their sights on the 2027 Parapan American Games in Lima and potentially LA28.

“The announcer this weekend was a Canadian and when he saw us at dinner one night he was very surprised and wanted to confirm that we were there as the Canadian team,” she told the Para Sport Nation podcast. “He was excited to announce Canadians on the international stage for the first time in a few years.”

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Daryl Yuen of Vancouver took eighth spot in the men’s 97 kilos competition as did Kimberly Neary of Halifax in the women’s 73 kilos. Telford rounded out the Canadian results with 10^th in the women’s 67 kilos.

Yuen initially started his Para sport career in track and field in 2017 but switched to powerlifting in 2025. Earlier this year he won the B.C. provincial title and the Kraken Open.

For the Canadian contingent, the Mexico City competition was another step towards rebuilding the country’s international presence.

Canada has not competed in powerlifting at the Parapan American Games since Toronto 2015, but Telford hopes that will change next year in Lima.

“With more athletes participating, we are already discussing what international meets are going to look like for next year. Some of us are trying to qualify for the Parapan Ams next year and seeing if we have a chance to make it to LA28.”

Neary also left Mexico encouraged by the experience.

“It was a competition for the books,” she wrote on Instagram. “While I didn’t get all 3 lifts like one always hopes. It was a powerful space to be in. I’m so glad I got to meet so many other amazing lifters.’’

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14 Paralympians from Milano Cortina named to Team Canada for Para Hockey Cup

Hockey Canada unveiled the 20 players who will be part of Canada’s National Para Hockey Team at the 2026 International Para Hockey (IPH) Cup, Oct. 18-24 in Nymburk, Czechia.

Two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 11 forwards were selected by head coach Boris Rybalka (Camrose, AB), and his staff.

“We had an extremely competitive camp in Surrey, B.C., last month, with 25 players arriving in great shape and ready to showcase their skills to the coaching staff,” said Rybalka. “From the veterans to our younger players, everyone was engaged and is eager to implement our practice tactics into game situations as focus now shifts to winning the IPH Cup.”

The roster includes 14 players that won a silver medal at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games (Armstrong, Boily, Burnett, Cozzolino, Dixon, Dunn, Halbert, Henry, Hickey, Jacobs-Webb, Kovacevich, Lelièvre, McGregor, Watson).

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Jieshing Boutilier will make his international debut with Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, while Branden Sison will return to Team Canada for the first time since the 2022 Paralympics.

The 2026 IPH Cup features Canada, Czechia, the United States and the World Selects, an international team comprised of the world’s top players who will compete against the three national teams.

Canada opens its schedule against the United States on Oct. 18 at 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT. It will also face the World Selects (Oct. 19) and the host Czechs (Oct. 21) in preliminary-round play, with the semifinals on Oct. 23 and the medal games on Oct. 24.

Para archers in South America for two big international events

Paralympian Kyle Tremblay leads Canada at the first of two meets today at the Para World Series stop in Santiago, Chile which runs until Sunday. The squad then travels to Lima for the Parapan Am Championships in October 21-25.

At the Parapanam Championships in Lima, Parapan Am Games quotas will be on the line. The 2027 Parapan Am are also in Lima.

The line-up in Santiago this week is comprised of Tremblay, of Deep River, Ont., Chris Waterman of Winnipeg and Chad McCormack of Charlottetown in the compound open. It is McCormack’s international debut. He began shooting competitively in 2025, and hopes to secure a spot on the 2027 Para Development or High Performance teams.

In the recurve open it is Jean-François Lavergne of St-Raymond, Que., and Shawn Matheson of Ottawa while Spencer Arnold of Chilliwack, B.C., and military veteran Daniel Comeau of Shannon, Que., compete in the wheelchair division.