It was a surreal feeling for Ruby Stevens.

The swimmer from Toronto secured CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first gold medal at the 2023 Parapan American Games on Saturday in the womenB次元官网网址檚 S6 100-metre backstroke. It was one of four medals on the day for Canada, three of which came in the pool.

B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址橧t doesnB次元官网网址檛 quite feel real,B次元官网网址� said Stevens, who has six more events remaining at her first major Games. B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址橫y dream has come true. IB次元官网网址檓 happy and excited. I want to keep carrying that strength and determination all the way to the very end of the Games.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

The 21-year-old set a new Parapan Am record of one minute 30.41 seconds in a decisive win. StevensB次元官网网址檚 mark shattered the previous record of 1:33.03 set by ColombiaB次元官网网址檚 Sara Varga at the 2019 Games in Lima, Peru.

MexicoB次元官网网址檚 Vianney Trejo earned silver (1:34.38), while Megan Gioffreda of the U.S. took bronze (1:34.42).

Vancouver table tennis player Stephanie Chan won CanadaB次元官网网址檚 inaugural medal at the Games.

Chan, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 oldest athlete in Santiago at 66, clinched a bronze medal when she lost her S6-7 combined class semifinal match to Giselle Munoz of Spain 11-1, 11-4, 11-3 on the official first day of competition.

B次元官网网址淭oday I wasnB次元官网网址檛 feeling well,B次元官网网址� said Chan, who will undergo heart surgery after the Games. B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址橧 had some problems with my breathing. (Giselle) played well but this heart problem did not allow me to play a lot this year.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Munoz will meet Claudia Perez of Mexico in the gold-medal match. Perez, the defending champion, received a bye to final because she was first in the preliminary round.

Chan is now a six-time medallist at the Parapan Am Games, including one gold, two silver, and three bronze.

B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址橧B次元官网网址檓 so excited about the medal,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址橝fter surgery IB次元官网网址檒l come again to practice table tennis and be at the next Parapan Ams.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Canadian team coach Dejan Papic lauded ChanB次元官网网址檚 courage.

B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址橲he found the strength to compete once again for the Canadian team,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Papic. B次元官网网址楤次元官网网址機onsidering her condition at these Games this may have been her best achievement. She did much more than we expected.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Chan can add to her medal haul later this week when she competes in mixed doubles with Asad Hussain Syed of Toronto.

In the pool, Fernando Lu, of Langley B.C., won silver in the menB次元官网网址檚 S10 50 freestyle in a time of 25.28 seconds. The 16-year-old finished 1.35 seconds behind gold medallist Phelipe Melo of Brazil.

Tyson MacDonald, of Woodstock, Ont., gave Canada a fourth medal when he swam to bronze in the menB次元官网网址檚 S14 200 freestyle in time of 2:01.61.

The 27-year-old MacDonald won gold, silver, and bronze at the 2019 Games.

Also on Saturday, Canada opened the womenB次元官网网址檚 wheelchair basketball competition with a convincing 61-44 win over Brazil.

Kady Dandeneau, of Pender Island, B.C., put on a dominant display with 25 points, 17 rebounds, three steals and five assists.

Arinn Young, of St. Albert, Alta., and Quebec CityB次元官网网址檚 Cindy Ouellet each contributed 10 points.

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 next game will be against El Salvador on Sunday.

Canada has a total of 135 athletes in Santiago, competing in 14 different sports.

Canada is seventh in the medal standings with its one gold and four overall medals.

Brazil is atop the leaderboard with 19 gold and 46 total medals, with Argentina and Colombia in second and third with five gold and 17 overall medals apiece.

The Games continue until Nov. 26.