Para sport notebook: Brianna Hennessy wins gold, bronze at Para canoe World Cup

POZNAN, Poland – Brianna Hennessy of Ottawa picked up where she left off last season with gold in the women’s VL2 200-metre and bronze in the KL1 race on Sunday at the Para canoe World Cup season opener.

Hennessy, a Paralympic Games silver medallist in the VL2 last year, won her race by over two seconds on runner up Debora Raiza Ribeiro of Brazil in the seven-woman final.

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Two-time Paralympian Erica Scarff of Mississauga, Ont., was fifth in the women’s VL3 final just 0.09 seconds from the podium.

Mathieu St-Pierre of Shawinigan, Que., was sixth in the men’s VL2 and Gabriel Ferron-Bouius of Ottawa seventh in the men’s KL3.

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Brent Lakatos pleased with season start at Para athletics Grand Prix

Canadian wheelchair legend Brent Lakatos showed he’s still in business this past weekend with medal performances at the Nottwil Para athletics Grand Prix event including a victory in the men’s T53 800-metre.

“It was a good race, I’m happy with the time, but it didn’t go as I’d imagined,” said Lakatos in an interview with Sportcom, about the 800.

The 44-year-old from Dorval, Que., was trailing after 400 meters, finished in 1:32.49, ahead of long-time rival, Paeyo Pongsakorn of Thailand

“It gives me confidence and I’m very happy with my time. It’s maybe my third-best time ever, so it’s very good.’’

The 44-year-old Lakatos is a six-time Paralympian with 13 career medals and won gold in the 800 last year in Paris.

Canada fielded a 16-member team for the competition which traditionally launches its international season.

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Haley Bennett-Osborne named coach of High Performance Centre – Quebec

Swimming Canada announced Friday it has selected Haley Bennett-Osborne to lead the High Performance Centre – Quebec, which will reopen later this year at the Olympic Park Sports Centre in Montreal.

The native of Parksville, B.C., is completing her second season as head coach of the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club. Her athletes there include her brother Nicholas Bennett, who won three medals – two gold – and was named Closing Ceremony flag bearer at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

“It is great to have Haley on board with Swimming Canada,” said High Performance Director and National Coach John Atkinson. “Her experience and success as a coach will be a great addition to Swimming Canada as we continue to move our centre and national programs forward.”

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Ontario and Quebec strike gold at 2025 National Wheelchair Basketball Championships

Quebec captured gold in the women’s division, while Ontario claimed top honours in the men’s division at the 2025 National Championships on Sunday in Oshawa.

Quebec defeated B.C., 68-42 in the women’s final.

Six-time Paralympian Cindy Ouellet led the way for Quebec with 19 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds. Élodie Tessier chipped in with 10 points, six assists, and five rebounds, while Charlie Parent added nine points and two rebounds in the win.

“We are very strong,” said Tessier, a two-time Paralympian. “I think we have a really good foundation in Quebec. We have good coaches and we are building the foundation. It’s pretty nice. Everybody is developing well, and it’s really great for our province.”

Ontario took the bronze.

Ontario held off a late push from Alberta to secure a 63-60 victory in the men’s division gold medal game.

Ibrahim Odza led the way with a game-high 22 points, along with 10 rebounds and seven assists. Lee Melymick contributed 13 points and three assists, while Nasif Chowdhury added 10 points and five rebounds in the win.

Quebec won the bronze.

Canadian wins bronze at Para climbing World Cup

At a Para climbing World Cup in Salt Lake City last week, Emily McDermott of London, Ont., won the bronze medal in the women’s AU3 category for competitors with muscle weakness or limb deficiency/loss in one or both hands.

Last year the International Paralympic Committee announced that Para climbing would be added to the Games program for Los Angeles 2028.

Also reaching a final was Chaz Misuraca of Stratford, Ont., placing fourth in men’s B3 for entries with a visual impairment while Terry Hoddinott of London, Ont., just missed the cut placing fifth in men’s B1 prelims for blind competitors.