Return of the Crowds: Canadian Para athletes soaking up Paralympic Games atmosphere

PARIS – It is a moment that will be etched in Keegan Gaunt’s memory for the rest of her life.

The visually impaired Ottawa runner being introduced before 80,000 spectators at Le Stade de France for the women’s T13 1500m race, her first career event at the Paralympic Games.

“Du Canada, from Canada… Keegan Gaunt,” then the roar, a sound only unique to mega stadiums. In Paris, the fans cheer hard, regardless of your nationality, cognizant of this special moment for each and every competitor.

The Paris Paralympics are a grandiose spectacle, and the athletes are soaking up the thrills.

‘’That moment and my family being here is what I’ll remember the most,’’ said Gaunt, 24.

In 2020, the Paralympic Games were delayed until 2021 due to the COVID pandemic. But even a year later in Japan, the number of cases were still soaring and therefore those Games were held in closed stadiums, under strict conditions and outsiders were basically advised to stay away.

‘’Paris will be my first true Paralympic Games experience the way it’s supposed to be experienced,’’ said wheelchair tennis player Rob Shaw of North Bay, Ont., a member of the 2020 team.

All the bells and whistles are back in Paris with the grandness that is unique to a city like Paris. The venues are packed, and the crowds are loud.

‘’There’s nothing like the Paralympic Games,’’ said wheelchair racing legend Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Que., competing at his sixth Games, after his 5000m on Saturday. ‘’It never gets old. Before the Games, I was wondering whether I would feel as motivated, and I can say the answer is yes.’’

Wheelchair basketball great Patrick Anderson of Fergus, Ont., like Lakatos, says these Games are going to be one of his most memorable among his six participations. And he’s only played two games in Paris so far.

“As far as memories go, I’ll never forget it,’’ said Anderson, Canada’s co-flag bearer in the Opening Ceremony, after Friday’s opener against France. “It was great to be out there, get in front of an unbelievable crowd, play in an amazing, well-played, exciting game, and look up and see friends and family again up there cheering us on, and having a great time.’’

“No matter what happens the rest of the tournament, I’ll always cherish this memory.”

Canadian boccia star Alison Levine of Montreal is proud her sport is generating such interest at these Games.

‘’In the not too distant past, I’m not sure if boccia was looked upon as a real sport,’’ she said after her match on Thursday. ‘’Now we have people who are respecting it and choosing to come see it. It’s everything, and it fills me with confidence to continue what I’m doing.’’

Para cyclist Kate O’Brien of Calgary, Canada’s first medallist in Paris with a bronze in the 500m time trial on Thursday, made her Games debut in Tokyo.

‘’Tokyo was a great Games but obviously very different,’’ she said.

‘’So being able to wave at family in the crowd and go up and see them, just being able to share all that was just amazing.’’

Para swimmer Danielle Dorris of Moncton, N.B., who’ll be going for a medal in the 50-metre butterfly next Saturday, praised the large, vocal crowd at the Paris La Défense Arena after her sixth place in the 200 individual medley.

“We are here with this big ass crowd,” said the 21-year-old. “I haven’t been in front of this big a crowd since Rio when I was 13.”

Of course, some veterans like wheelchair racer Austin Smeenk of Oakville, Ont. is so zoned in on his competition that nothing is going faze him from his ultimate goal. To be on the podium.

‘’To be honest I didn’t even know they were there,’’ he said about the fans, after he qualified for the 100 final Sunday morning. ‘’I’m just doing my own thing. I can hear a bit of noise but it doesn’t change the outcome of how I race down the track.’’

Wheelchair rugby player Patrice Dagenais of Embrun, Ont., near Ottawa, says the atmosphere in Paris brings back memories of his first Games in London in 2012. Those Games are widely considered the best-ever Paralympics.

“Wheelchair rugby is definitely a hot ticket (in Paris),”said Dagenais. “We have thousands of people in the crowd cheering us on from different countries. It’s just loud, so it just makes for an awesome atmosphere.

‘’London was my first Games, but also my favourite ones with the whole experience.’’

Dagenais’s opinion and those of many others could change when the curtain falls on Paris 2024 on September 8.