As the 2024 Paralympics are set to close on Sunday, Canadian athletes were busy finding their way to numerous podium finishes on Saturday.
The day saw Austin Smeenk win his first career Paralympic gold medal in the men’s 800m-T34 event.
“It’s a good day for me, a good day for Canada, a good day for our program,” said Smeenk.
“There was a lot that went into this, and a lot of people that contributed, so everybody here is celebrating. It’s a single-person sport, but there’s a massive team behind me that has contributed to this.”
Also finding the top of the podium on Saturday was Danielle Dorris, in the women's 50m butterfly S7 competition.
The New Brunswick native successfully defended her championship title for her third career Paralympic medal.
The Canadian women’s sitting volleyball team had a historic day as the program won its first-ever Paralympic medal.
The team took on Brazil in the bronze medal game, a rematch of the 2020 Paralympics that saw Brazil win and force the Canadians to settle for fourth place.
But this time was different, as Canada went on to win in straight sets to secure the bronze medal.
Brianna Hennessy earned Canada’s first-ever medal in para canoe after she finished in second place in the women’s va’a single 200m VL2 final.
Canada’s second silver medal of the day came courtesy of Nate Riech in the men’s 1500m-T38 event, finishing just behind Amen Allah Tissaoui of Tunisia.
“It sucks, but at the end of the day those guys were great to me when I won, and I have nothing but respect for Amen,” said Riech.
“He was the best guy out there, no doubt about it and I’m just proud.”
Shelby Newkirk earned her first career medal with a third-place finish in the women’s 100m backstroke S6 event.
“I really just gave everything I could,” said Newkirk.
“I was very excited as soon as I realized I got bronze. It’s been a goal for so long. It was a goal in Tokyo, I came in fourth, I came in fourth earlier this week. To finally be able to break onto the podium was such an amazing feeling.”
The Paralympics wrap up on Sunday with several events taking place, including Canada looking for its first women’s wheelchair basketball medal in 20 years.
Canada is set to take on China in the bronze medal game at 4:30 am EST.
