Paris 2024 Para Athletics Lookahead: Newcomers excited about first Games

When Amanda Rummery narrowly missed making the 2020 Paralympic Games team she didn’t dwell on her disappointment. Heck, there were only three years until the next Games in Paris.

Now the 27-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alta. is ranked second in the world in her prime event, the women’s T47 400-metres. She clocked a Canadian record 57.99 this past May at a meet in California and is just over a half second behind the 57.35 posted by Brazilian rival Fernanda Yara Da Silva of Brazil.

“Missing Tokyo was really a motivating factor for me,” said Rummery, who lost most of her left arm in an ATV accident in 2015. “I sat down with my coach, and we realized I’m still so new to Para sport and track and field. With the Games only three years out I felt I still had the time to get that much stronger and close the gap.”

Rummery is one of 11 Para athletics team members out of 20 making their Paralympic Games debut in Paris. Of those 11, three already have world championship medals (Bianca Borgella of Ottawa, Cody Fournie of Toronto, and Noah Vucsics of Calgary).

Like Rummery, Fournie is another amazing story of perseverance. He was a long-time national team wheelchair rugby player but just missed making the cut for the Games in 2020. His decision to switch to wheelchair racing revealed his talents to the world.

At the world championships this past May in Kobe, Japan, Fournie won the silver medal in the T51 100-m in 20.11 and is ranked third in the world entering the Paris Games behind Roger Habsch of Belgium (19.13) and Mohamed Berrahal of Algeria (19.95).

‘’Getting that ticket to Paris was something I really worked hard for, after a smooth transition from wheelchair rugby,’’ said Fournie, 35, who was diagnosed with quadriplegia after an accident at age 11. ‘’I’ve been trying to improve everything I can on the track this season so I’m thankful that I got it.’’

The visually impaired Borgella was a double medallist at the 2023 worlds with silver in the T13 200 and bronze in the 100. The Canadian record holder is ranked second in the world in the 100 at 11.92 behind Orla Comerford of Ireland at 11.90. The 21-year-old Canadian is also number two in the 200 at 25.21 behind Rayane Soares Da Silva of Brazil at 24.89.

‘’I’m shocked but at the same time not shocked to be going to the Games,’’ said Borgella, 21. ‘’My goal this year was to go under 12 seconds and I knew if I did that my spot would be secured.

 ‘’It’s all a bit crazy and I’m super excited.’’

Canada’s new speedsters will be able to call some of the sport’s biggest stars teammates, such as 11-time wheelchair racing Paralympic medallist Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Que.

Austin Smeenk of Oakville, Ont. enters the T34 wheelchair racing 400 and 800 ranked number one in the world while reigning Paralympic champion and world record holder Nate Riech in the T38 1500 is also number one.

Smeenk, 27, is headed to his third Games and primed to win his first medal.

‘’A good part of my plan this season was to go over to Europe and evaluate the training and it worked out pretty well,’’ said Smeenk, who set world records in the 400 and 800 at a Grand Prix in Paris this past June. ‘’It wasn’t one small thing that made a difference this season, it’s the combination of a whole bunch of different things that improve my times.’’

Canada has great Paralympic throwers too

In the throwing events, Greg Stewart of Kamloops, B.C. looks to successfully defend his Paralympic Games title in the men’s F46 shotput, but it won’t be easy. The seven-foot-two Stewart is currently ranked second in the world at 16.14 metres behind Sachin Sarjerao Khilari of India at 16.33. The next two behind Stewart are over 16 metres as well.

‘’There are some young guns moving up the ranks,’’ said Stewart, born without the lower part of his left arm. ‘’This event has really become serious and now five or six guys can throw over 16.”

Stewart, 38, won the Paralympic title in 2021 with a 16.75 metre toss which is still the Canadian record and just 0.5 off the world mark.

On the women’s side, Renee Foessel of London, Ont. and Charlotte Bolton of Tillsonburg, Ont. are both world top-five throwers.

In the jumping events, Canada is led by first-time Paralympian Noah Vucsics of Calgary in the men’s F20 long jump. He won the silver medal at the world championships last year and is ranked third in the world at 7.25 metres after landing a 7.35 at worlds. The number one is Russian and won’t be at the Games while second is Abduk Latif Romly of Malaysia at 7.30.

‘’Representing Canada is the biggest honour an athlete could hope for,’’ said Vucsics. ‘’When I compete for Canada, I’m not just doing this for me but for everyone in my corner supporting me and of course the entire country.

‘’Paris is just going to be so exciting and with the fans back in the stands it’s just going to be so much more special.’’

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