What looked like a bounce back for Canada at the Paralympic Games was more of a return to form.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 10 gold medals in Paris were the most since 19 in Beijing in 2008, and also doubled the output at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
The 29 medals overall matched Rio in 2016 and far surpassed the 21 in Tokyo.
The COVID-19 pandemic affected para sport more than able-bodied sport with international and domestic competition decimated.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 tight restrictions around the pandemic added an extra layer of challenge for Tokyo hopefuls in addition to the adaptations they made to pursue their sport.
Canadian athletes showed what they could do in Paris with more optimal preparation.
B次元官网网址淚 would say itB次元官网网址檚 a bit of a bounce forward,B次元官网网址� Canadian Paralympic Committee chief executive officer Karen OB次元官网网址橬eill said Sunday.
B次元官网网址淭his really is a crossroads for Canada because what we wanted to do was stop the downturn of our reduced performance, especially in summer sport, thatB次元官网网址檚 been evidenced over the last couple of quads.
B次元官网网址淐OVID was tough for both our Olympians and Paralympians, but it was markedly tougher for our Paralympians because so many additional supports and services were not available.B次元官网网址�
Canada tied for 15th with India in total medals and tied for 11th with Germany and Uzbekistan in gold among 168 countries.
Canadians stood on the podium in seven sports.
Swimming and track and field led the way with a combined 22 medals, including all 10 gold.
B次元官网网址淭hey had a really good mix of new and more veteran athletes being able to perform on the highest stage,B次元官网网址� said CPC chief sport officer Catherine Gosselin-Despr茅s.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 been really refreshing to see in these two big sports that are so important in the Paralympic Games.B次元官网网址�
Nicholas Bennett of Parksville, B.C., had a breakout Paralympic Games with two gold medals and a silver in swimming.
TokyoB次元官网网址檚 Paralympic Games were delayed from 2020 to 2021 and held without spectators because of the pandemic.
Bennett wasnB次元官网网址檛 rattled by the raucous La Defense Arena atmosphere in his second Paralympic Games.
B次元官网网址淛ust making the team was a monumental task and then racing some of the best athletes in the world and placing among them to be the best, itB次元官网网址檚 just been absolutely insane,B次元官网网址� the 20-year-old said.
B次元官网网址淭he experience in the pool, it was so loud that I could barely hear my own thoughts. Compared to Tokyo, you could hear a pin drop.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to dream of these memories every night probably for the rest of my life.B次元官网网址�
He and para canoeist Brianna Hennessy of Ottawa were chosen to carry CanadaB次元官网网址檚 flag in SundayB次元官网网址檚 closing ceremonies in Place de la Concorde.
Hennessy produced CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first Paralympic medal in canoeing with a silver.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really seeing an evolution of para sport across the world,B次元官网网址� the 39-year-old said. B次元官网网址淚 always talk about when we come here weB次元官网网址檙e representing our country, but weB次元官网网址檙e representing something much bigger than that. ItB次元官网网址檚 the movement of people with disabilities.
B次元官网网址淧eople with disabilities shouldnB次元官网网址檛 have to do something extraordinary to be seen or respected in their communities.B次元官网网址�
The womenB次元官网网址檚 sitting volleyball teamB次元官网网址檚 bronze was CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first Paralympic medal in a team sport since London in 2012.
A common theme among Canadian medallists was they started out in a different para sport before switching to one in which they excelled.
VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Cody Fournie won a pair of wheelchair racing sprints after a decade in wheelchair rugby. Cycling silver medallist Nathan Clement of West Vancouver, B.C., swam in the 2016 Paralympics before his move to the bike.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 para sport system must continue to flexible for those moves to happen, Gosselin-Despr茅s said.
B次元官网网址淟ike most of the top nations in world, we rely a little bit on athlete transfer,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淢any athletes start in a sport and either have a dual sport, or change to a sport where theyB次元官网网址檙e going to be more successful. You can grow your medal-potential group.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 having our coaches and technical leaders being able to have these conversations with the athletes.B次元官网网址�
Paris marks the first time CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Paralympians will receive bonus money for medals on the same scale as their Olympic counterpartsB次元官网网址� $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.
The CPC will pay athletes out of an $8-million endowment fund. Health tech entrepreneur Sanjay Malaviya of Hespeler, Ont., contributed $4 million and the federal government $2 million to it.
Malaviya also renewed grants of $5,000 per medallist to top up the medal bonuses.
The Paralympics in Paris sold more that 2.3 million tickets, which ranked second behind LondonB次元官网网址檚 2.7 million in 2012, according to The Associated Press. French fans were gracious supporters of international athletes and zealous about their own in venues.
B次元官网网址淚 really hope that witnessing the power of whatB次元官网网址檚 happened here at the Paralympics, and the team thatB次元官网网址檚 returning home, that Canadians will take notice of not only an exceptionally talented team of athletes, but also just the power of sport to demonstrate the diversity of our country and how much we share in common,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橬eill said.
B次元官网网址淣o longer should it be acceptable for the communities and country we live in not to be accessible.B次元官网网址�
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Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
