Previewing Lima 2019: mix of veterans and newcomers on Canada’s athletics team

OTTAWA – Paralympic Games medallist Alister McQueen and defending discus champion Jennifer Brown are among Canada’s top medal hopefuls in athletics at the Parapan American Games.

The athletics competition starts Saturday (August 24).

The team is comprised of 19 men and seven women, with 16 athletes set to make their major Games debut in Lima. Seven athletes have Paralympic Games experience, including Rio 2016 competitors Brown, McQueen, Liam Stanley, Mitchell Chase, and Guillaume Ouellet. 

Stanley (T37 1,500-metres) and McQueen (F44 javelin) both came home with silver medals from the 2016 Games. 

Since Rio though, Nathan Riech has grabbed the spotlight thanks to world record performances in the T38 800 and 1500-m races. He was named Athletics Canada’s Ambulatory Athlete of the Year for 2018.

Also on the rise is Greg Stewart in the F46 shotput. The 7’2’’ former sitting volleyball player is ranked second in the world in his event with a 15.82 metre toss last month.

In Para athletics, events are available for physical disabilities – both wheelchair and standing – and athletes with visual and intellectual impairments. Contested events are held in track racing and throwing.

The schedule for Para athletics runs from August 24-28. At the 2015 Toronto Games, Canada was third in the athletics medal standings with 43 medals including 19 gold, the same amount of wins as second place USA. Brazil topped the standings with 80 medals.

Canada is sending a team of 151 athletes to the Lima 2019 Parapan Am Games, taking place August 23 to September 1.

For more information on the Canadian Parapan Am Team, please visit Paralympic.ca/lima2019.