Weekly round-up: Canada’s Para athletes finding creative ways to work out

Even though Canada’s Paralympians are not able to compete right now, or train at their normal pace, they are still keeping themselves busy whether it’s doing at-home workouts, virtual chatting with friends and family, or sharing their stories in the news and on social media. Each week, we’ll compile various top social posts and articles to see what Canadian Para athletes have been up to. Here are some highlights from the past week: 

Canadian Para athletes are finding new and creative ways to stay fit during the pandemic. With help from Wheelchair Rugby Canada and Rowing Canada, wheelchair rugby national team veteran Trevor Hirschfield has set up a gym in his storage unit. 

— Trevor Hirschfield (@trevor_hirsch10) May 5, 2020 

For his part, national men’s wheelchair basketball team veteran David Eng is cooking up a storm doing chin-ups with his BBQ propane tank. Do not try this at home! 

“Need to be creative for training these days. 37.6lbs BBQ gas tank should do the trick. Hope my fence holds up” @The_Real_DENG #Wheelchairbasketball #CSIO #BuildingChampions #SportforCanada @WCBballCanada @ONPARANETWORK @CDNParalympics @SportCanada_EN @ownthepodium pic.twitter.com/NxCpzCIho4

— CDN Sport Institute (@CSIONTARIO) May 6, 2020

Para swimmer Nicholas Bennett, who won three gold and a bronze at the 2019 Parapan American Games returned home to Parksville, B.C. in March and is maintaining his fitness thanks to a personal program set for him by Swimming Canada. Check out the full story here.  

When having an at-home workout with your child don’t forget to stretch! See how Para cyclist Charles Moreau and his son #PlayFromHome.  

 

 

 

 

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En vous entraînant à la maison avec votre enfant n’oubliez pas l’étirement! Regardez comment @charles_cycliste et son fils #JouezÀLaMaison When having an at home workout with your child don’t forget to stretch! See how Charles Moreau and his son #PlayFromHome @ctjumpstart

A post shared by CDN Paralympic Team (@cdnparalympics) on May 1, 2020 at 12:22pm PDT

World champion Para triathlete Stefan Daniel was one of the athletes featured in a Postmedia story on how Olympians and Paralympians are dealing with their challenges during this pandemic, and he talked about getting back into a routine. Check out the full story here. 

In other news, Paralympic wheelchair racing champion Brent Lakatos provided a status update on Twitter. Many people can probably relate!  

It’s been a long seven weeks. #LockdownLocks pic.twitter.com/VXoWZq7DOn

— Brent Lakatos (@BrentLak) May 9, 2020

Team Canada Champion Chats is now hosting a weekly live chat with Paralympians and Olympians sharing their tips and advice for families and students. This past week, Para shot putter Greg Stewart and Olympic skeleton racer Mirela Rahneva discussed mental health and mindfulness, and ways to deal with anxiety. 

Canada’s top boccia player Alison Levine posted about Mother’s Day on Instagram, paying tribute to her mom Roberta, who balances working as a registered nurse alongside travelling with Alison as her sport assistant. 

 

 

 

 

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Happy Mother’s Day to all moms out there but especially to the best @rlevine411

A post shared by Alison Levine (@bocciaalison) on May 10, 2020 at 5:11am PDT