Paris 2024 Para triathlon Sports Lookahead: Triple medal threat for Canada

PARIS – Stefan Daniel is an established superstar, Kamylle Frenette has blossomed since Tokyo 2020 and Leanne Taylor is having the best year of career. That’s the three-member Canadian Para triathlon team which competes on Sunday, each one a solid medal contender.

The Paralympic Games gold medal is the one item missing from Daniel’s mantlepiece in the sport.

The 27-year-old Calgarian is already a five-time world champion and at the Paralympic Games won silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020.

“Obviously I’d love to win,’’ said Daniel, born with bilateral radial club hands. ‘’That’s kind of been my dream ever since I was little, to try to win a Paralympic gold medal. That’s the one I’m still missing; but obviously it’s not going to be easy. ‘’

Going into the Games he is ranked number-one in the world in the men’s PT5 category.  On the World Series circuit this season he’s collected two silver and a bronze.

His top rivals include two-time defending Paralympic Games champion Martin Schulz of Germany, Chris Hammer of the U.S. with two victories on the circuit in 2024, and Ronan Cordeiro of Brazil.

In the women’s PT5, the 28-year-old Frenette from Dieppe, N.B. won her first career gold medal on the World Series circuit this past June at the annual Montreal stop. It was her last race before the Paralympics.

Frenette, a pharmaceutical worker born with a club foot, is ranked second in the world. Her top rivals include Claire Cashmore of Great Britain and Gwladys Lemoussu of France.

In the women’s wheelchair class, Taylor also won her first career series event at the stop in Swansea, Wales. She was second at the other two stops in Montreal and Yokohama, Japan. She’s soared this season to number-four in the world.

American Kendall Gretsch and Jessica Ferreira of Brazil hope to put a stick in Taylor’s wheels.

All Para triathlon races are Sunday starting at Pont Alexandre III.

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