Para sport update: Défi Sportif AlterGo launches busy summer season for Canadian Para athletes

OTTAWA – Canada’s summer Para sport season opens in Montreal this week with the Défi sportif AlterGo, bringing more than 6,000 athletes across 15 sports, from grassroots participants to Paralympians.

The largest multi-Para sport event in Canada runs from April 23 to May 3.

‘’For me, the Défi sportif AlterGo is magnificent,’’ said Paralympian wheelchair racer Carl Marquis, now one of the country’s top wheelchair curlers as the skip for Team Quebec.’’

The wheelchair curling nationals are part of the Défi, running in nearby Boucherville from April 27 to May 2.

‘’It is such a great entry point for people who think the Paralympics are untouchable. To be able to compete within this event, one step at a time and climb the ranks.’’

This year’s edition features major competitions, including the return of the World Boccia Cup, April 27 to May 3 at the Maurice-Richard Arena. It is expected to attract 100 athletes from 20 countries. Canada fields some of the top players in the world including former world number one Alison Levine, Iulian Ciobanu and Paralympic Games medallist Marco Displatro.

The program also features the inaugural Canadian women’s wheelchair rugby championships which runs this Thursday to Sunday (May 23-26) at the Centre Claude-Robillard.

The long-term goal is to expand the Défi Sportif AlterGo wheelchair rugby tournament into an international women’s tournament in future editions.

“For years, we have been writing the history of women’s wheelchair rugby—from solo female participation on mixed-gender club, provincial, and national teams to a growing movement of women competing across Canada and around the world” said national team member Mélanie Labelle, also a leader of the women’s development program.

“The first Canadian women’s wheelchair rugby nationals is a celebration of that journey—made possible by a dedicated, volunteer-led program and the relentless rise in participation from female athletes across the country.’’

Two Para cycling World Cups in Europe

Meanwhile, Canada’s Para cycling team heads to Europe for back-to-back UCI Para cycling road World Cups in Belgium (April 27 to May 1) and Italy (May 7-10).

The roster includes Paralympic Games medallists Alexandre Hayward of Quispamsis, N.B., and Nathan Clement of West Vancouver as well as decorated track cyclist and Paralympian   Mel Pemble of Victoria who continues to climb the road ranks.

Paralympic Games medallist Michael Sametz of Calgary continues his remarkable comeback from a serious injury while Jessica Law of Vancouver and Maarten Duif of Carleton, Ont., look to build on a strong 2025 international season.

“It’s good to be back to racing after a solid winter of training,” said Sebastien Travers, National Team Coach, Para cycling Lead. “These World Cups will give us an opportunity to make adjustments, before we start the qualification process for the next Paralympics starting this September.”

Para swimming and Para athletics athletes named for Commonwealth Games

One of the marquee events for Para sport this summer is the integrated Commonwealth Games, set for July 23–August 2 in Glasgow, Scotland. Athletics Canada and Swimming Canada have announced its Para teams for the competition.

In Para athletics, the women’s squad includes 2022 Commonwealth Games veterans Natalie Thirsk (Edmonton) and Nandini Sharma (Brampton, Ont.).  

Paralympian Sheriauna Haase (Toronto) joins World Para Athletics Championships team members Addisyn Franceschini (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Chloe Dunbar (Brooklyn, N.S.) in making their Commonwealth Games debuts. It’s the first national team assignment for Christel Robichaud (Grande-Digue, N.B.).

“The Commonwealth Games holds a special place in my heart, as 2022 was my first time representing Team Canada,” said Thirsk. “I remember the pride and excitement of stepping onto the track in front of a roaring crowd.”

On the men’s side, Paralympic Games and world championship medallist Zachary Gingras of Markham, Ont., returns to the Commonwealth Games after a bronze in the T38 100 metres in 2022.

Another returnee is George Quarcoo of Toronto. The 2018 veteran will compete alongside guide runner Segun Makinde, who previously raced as an able-bodied sprinter at Gold Coast 2018 Games in the 100 metres and as part of the men’s 4×100 metre relay.

More stars for Glasgow on the Para swimming squad

In Para swimming, the seven-member team includes Paris 2024 Paralympic teammates and multiple world championship medallists Katie Cosgriffe of Toronto and Mary Jibb Muskoka, Ont.

Paralympic medalist and Commonwealth Games champion Nicolas-Guy Turbide of Quebec City leads the men’s team. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Turbide won gold in the 50-m freestyle S13 and set a Commonwealth Games record.

He will be joined by his Paris 2024 teammate and Paralympic medallist Reid Maxwell of Edmonton and Paris 2024 teammate Alec Elliot of Kitchener, Ont.

“Winning in 2022 was very exciting, a core memory and one of the big highlights of my career,” said Turbide, about his 2022 Commonwealth Games experience. “The integrated Olympic and Paralympic programs all together shows us a different perspective.

‘’We get to see how things are on the Olympic side of things and they get to see what we do on our side as well.’’