Tokyo 2020 Social Check-in: Paralympians ready to compete

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games is finally here! And as Canada’s Paralympians compete over the next two weeks, we’ll take the daily pulse of the Games excitement on social media by sharing a few of the best posts from the Canadian Paralympic Team, its fans, and Canadian media.

Be sure to follow @CDNParalympics on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest news and posts.

Here’s a quick look at some recent updates:

Radio-Canada’s Paralympic Games expert Keven Breton talks about Canada’s medal prospects in Tokyo. He sees wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos and Para swimmer Aurélie Rivard as multi-medal contenders.

Qui sont les espoirs de médaille pour le Canada aux Jeux paralympiques de Tokyo? Tour d’horizon avec le journaliste @kevenbreton de @RC_Sports pic.twitter.com/QIshY7OH59

— Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) August 23, 2021

Zak Madell, the star scorer on Canada’s wheelchair rugby team, talked to CTV Montreal about the motivation to bounce back from a heartbreaking fourth place in Rio and the pride the team takes in the fact wheelchair rugby was invented in Canada.

Zak Madell’s Interview with @CTVMontreal #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics https://t.co/WKBOin1jcW

— Wheelchair Rugby Canada (@WCRugbyCanada) August 23, 2021

It may be her fourth Paralympic Games but the excitement never gets stale for 2016 Para swimming champion Katarina Roxon.

Opening ceremonies kick off tomorrow!✨#Tokyo2020NE #Tokyo2020 #ParalympicGames @CDNParalympics pic.twitter.com/e1XZfMeLD7

— Katarina Roxon (@Katarina_Roxon) August 23, 2021

Devin Heroux of CBC has already been interviewing several Canadian Paralympians on the ground in Tokyo. He was intrigued whether medal hopeful in boccia Alison Levine still wore her lucky red shoes from 2016.

Lucky red shoes?

LUCKY RED SHOES!

I asked @BocciaAlison if she had them with her.

Her response: pic.twitter.com/AkQjDrecgJ

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) August 23, 2021

Nik Goncin of the men’s wheelchair basketball team checks out the court in Tokyo. The team’s first game is August 26 against Spain.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nikola Gončin | Paralympian (@ngoncin)

The Canadian Para canoers are in Japan. Their events only start next week so they are at a camp on Lake Kiba. Brianna Hennessy is tuning up for her first Games.