Seventeen Paralympians among 26 named to Para athletics world championship team

OTTAWA – Paralympic Games medallists Greg Stewart, Austin Smeenk, Marissa Papaconstantinou, Jesse Zesseu, Nate Tucker, Liam Stanley and Zachary Gingras were among the 26 athletes named to Canada’s Para athletics world championships team on Tuesday.

The selections were announced by Athletics Canada after the five-day Canadian Track and Field Championships which concluded on Sunday in Ottawa. The worlds are September 27 to October 5 in New Delh

This year’s team features 17 Paralympians, which includes the seven Paralympic medallists who own a collective 10 Paralympic medals. There are 13 men, 12 women and one guide.

“I’m incredibly excited about this team heading into the World Championships,’’ said Athletics Canada’s Para Performance Lead Carla Nicholls.

‘’A strong core of our Paris 2024 athletes will be returning, bringing invaluable experience and leadership. With the opportunity to bring a larger team to worlds, we’re also welcoming a number of new athletes, an exciting sign of depth and momentum in our program,”

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Five Para athletes are making their world’s debut, to go along with the 21 veterans. That groups includes 10 world medallists totalling 19 medals.

The problem-plagued 2010 Commonwealth Games which were held in New Delhi are a reminder for the Canadian team to be prepared on all fronts for these upcoming worlds.

“Hosting the championships in Delhi presents unique challenges, but we’re fully prepared with a world-class sport science and sport medicine team, alongside an exceptional coaching staff,’’ said Nicholls. ‘’Together, we’re building on the resilience and performance culture that define this team.”

This is the third straight year a Para athletics world championships is being held.

In 2023, the Canadian team served notice it would be a powerhouse for the Paralympic Games in Paris, earning 14 medals (two gold, seven silver and five bronze) as well as 10 qualifications spots for Paris 2024, its best performance since 2013.

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Medallists at those worlds, also in Paris, included wheelchair racer Smeenk, runners Gingras, Guillaume Ouellet and Papaconstantinou and thrower Renee Foessel.

In 2024 Canada sent a smaller team to nail down those last Games spots with Stewart taking a silver in the shotput.

At the 2024 Paralympic Games, Canadians took home nine medals including half the team’s gold with five as well as three silver and one bronze. Smeenk, Tucker and Stewart were among the medalists.

More than 1,000 athletes are expected at worlds with 186 medal events scheduled.

Canadian team for the 2025 Para athletics world championships September 27-October 5 in New Delhi.

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Anthony Bouchard, Quebec City, T52 100m

Austin Smeenk, Oakville, Ont., T34 100m, 400m, 800m

David Johnson, Victoria, T12 100m and 400m

George Quarcoo, Oshawa, Ont., T11 100m

Greg Stewart, Kamloops, B.C., F46 shotput

Guillaume Ouellet, Victoriaville, Que., T13 5000m

Jesse Zesseu, Toronto, F37 discus and long jump

Liam Stanley, Victoria, T38 1500m

Michael Barber, Victoria, T20 800m and 1500m