Para sport update: Para cycling stars Pemble, Hayward chase more world championship medals

OTTAWA – Paralympic bronze medallist Alexandre Hayward and four-time world champion Mel Pemble headline Canada’s five-member team for the Para cycling track world championships this Thursday through Sunday in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.

The UCI YouTube channel will provide live coverage of the event. Fans can also cheer on Team Canada live and stay up-to-date throughout the competition by following real time updates on the Track Timing Live Event Page(opens in a new tab)

Pemble, racing in the C3 class (conventional bike) was Canada’s star at last year’s track worlds in Rio with four medals including gold in the sprint. She also added silver in the elimination race and kilometre time trial and bronze in the scratch race.

Also a Paralympian in Para alpine skiing back in 2018, the 26-year-old Paris Paralympian from Victoria, has won 11 medals at the last four track worlds including four gold.

Hayward, from Quispamsis, N.B., excels both on the road and track. At his Paralympic debut in Paris in 2024, he won a bronze medal on the track in the men’s C3 3000-metre individual pursuit.

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Hayward will compete at his first track worlds since the Paris Paralympics and looks to duplicate what he’s done on the road since Paris.

He took gold in the time trials at the 2025 road worlds along with a bronze in the road race and added a bronze in 2026 in the time trial.

Rounding out the Canadian team are veteran rider Lowell Taylor of Lethbridge, Alta., and his pilot Jason Abbott of Calgary in the men’s blind category (MB) and Jessica Law of Vancouver in the women’s C5.

Paralympian Carla Qualtrough named president of Swimming Canada

OTTAWA –Paralympic swimmer and former federal cabinet minister Carla Qualtrough has been elected president of Swimming Canada, the organization announced Wednesday.

Qualtrough, a multiple Paralympic and world championship medallist, represented Canada in swimming before entering politics, where she served as MP for Delta, B.C., and held several cabinet portfolios, including sport and disability inclusion.

“I’m honoured to serve as president of Swimming Canada and give back to a sport that has shaped my life as an athlete, Paralympian and leader,” said Qualtrough in a news release.

She is a member of both the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame and B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

Zack Chetrat was named vice-president and Suzanne Weckend secretary, while Olympians Jennifer Button and Rachel Nicol and Janet Morrison joined the board as directors.

Tyler McGregor selected to Order of Hockey in Canada committee

Canadian Para ice hockey captain and four-time Paralympian Tyler McGregor has been named to the nine-member selection committee for the Order of Hockey in Canada, which is returning after a four-year hiatus.

Established in 2012, the Order has recognized 36 individuals for their contributions to Canadian hockey. The most recent class was honoured in June 2022.

Also on the committee is longtime Para sport advocate and Own the Podium CEO Anne Merklinger.

The Class of 2026 is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

U.S. Para hockey star salutes Canada after historic defeat

Canada’s 5-1 victory over the United States in Saturday’s International Para Hockey Cup final in Nymburk, Czechia, left even American superstar Declan Farmer impressed.

The U.S. captain acknowledged the significance of the loss in a social media post after Canada captured its first title at the annual tournament.

“A loss like this one is certainly humbling, and I can’t say it’s something we ever expected,” Farmer wrote. “It was actually the biggest defeat of my entire career and the first time we’ve lost by more than a goal since 2017.

“But that’s the beauty of this sport and this rivalry.”

The rematch(es) is fast approaching as both countries compete at the annual 2026 Para Cup, Nov. 29-Dec 5, in Paradise, N.L. The top four countries in the world are entered: U.S., Canada, China and Czechia. Fans can purchase 10-game tournament package at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.