Rio 2016: Strong showing for Team Canada at Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

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Team Canada photos are available at: http://tinyurl.com/hr4d833

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Sept. 18, 2016 /CNW/ - Triple gold medallist swimmer Aurélie Rivard led Team Canada in to the Opening Ceremony at Maracanã Stadium tonight in Rio. The 20-year-old from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu set two world records en route to winning three gold medals and a silver here in Rio.

Canada finishes these Games with 29 medals (eight gold, 10 silver, 11 bronze) to rank 14^th among nations in the total medal count, surpassing the team's performance goal of top 16.

"On behalf of Team Canada, I'd like to thank Brazil and Rio 2016 for hosting such fantastic Games," said Chef de Mission Chantal Petitclerc. "The stands were full, volunteers were friendly and we felt welcome and supported at all times.

"I've also been very impressed by the excellence and professionalism of Team Canada coaches and support staff, which ensured that our Canadian athletes could focus on delivering world-class performances.

"And to all our athletes – congratulations and well done. Many achieved lifetime bests, others fought hard and fell short of their goals, and I admire them all. The bar is continuously being raised in Paralympic sport and the depth of field continues to increase with every Games. Team Canada's athletes are outstanding role models for all Canadians and I am proud of all 162 of them.

"Thank you also to all the friends and family, government and sport partners, and corporate sponsors and suppliers, as well as media partners who have supported Team Canada every step of the way. None of this would be possible without you."

FUN FACTS:

• Four Canadian medallists are under age 20: Liam Stanley (athletics), Tess Routliffe (swimming), Nicholas-Guy Turbide (swimming) and Stefan Daniel (triathlon).
• The cycling team had its best Paralympics ever, with nine medals. Tristen Chernove emerged as a new star with three medals – gold, silver and bronze.
• Sprint stars Michelle Stilwell and Brent Lakatos were multiple medalists in wheelchair racing. Stilwell won two golds and Lakatos won gold, silver and two bronze.
• Two sailing crews are coming home with medals, a silver for the 2-person keelboat (SKUD18) and a bronze for the 3-person keelboat (Sonar).
• Canada won its first-ever Paralympic medal ever in rowing, a bronze.
• Canada medalled in one of the two new Paralympic sports: a silver in triathlon by Stefan Daniel.
• Five-time Paralympic swimmer Benoit Huot won his 20^th Paralympic medal, a bronze.
• Swimmer Katarina Roxon of Newfoundland and Labrador won gold in her third Paralympic Games, her first Paralympic medal.
• Canadian athletes were supported onsite by more than 350 friends and family.
• Back home, the team had unprecedented coverage with more than 200 hours on television and 1,000 hours online.

LIST OF MEDALLISTS

GOLD MEDALS
Athletics	100m T53	Brent Lakatos
	400m T52	Michelle Stilwell
	100m	Michelle Stilwell
Cycling	C2 - Time Trial	Tristen Chernove
Swimming	100m Breaststroke SB8	Katarina Roxon
	100m Freestyle S10	Aurélie Rivard
	400m Freestyle S10	Aurélie Rivard
	50m Freestyle S10	Aurélie Rivard
SILVER MEDALS
Swimming	200m Individual Medley SM10	Aurélie Rivard
Swimming	200m Individual Medley SM7	Tess Routliffe
Triathlon	PT4	Stefan Daniel
Athletics	Javelin Throw F44	Alister McQueen
Cycling	C1 - 3km Pursuit	Ross Wilson
Cycling	C1 - Time Trial	Ross Wilson
Athletics	1500m T37	Liam Stanley
Athletics	400m T53	Brent Lakatos
Cycling	C2 - 3km Pursuit	Tristen Chernove
Sailing	2-person keelboat (SKUD18)	John McRoberts, Jackie Gay
BRONZE MEDALS
Athletics	800m T53	Brent Lakatos
	4 x 400m Relay	Brent Lakatos, Curtis Thom, Tristan Smyth, Alexandre Dupont
Cycling	C1-3 - 1000m Time Trial	Tristen Chernove
	C3 - Time Trial	Michael Sametz
	H3 - Road Race	Charles Moreau
	H3 - Time Trial	Charles Moreau
	T1-2 - Time Trial	Shelley Gautier
Rowing	Legs, Trunk & Arms Coxed Four	Meghan Montgomery, Victoria Nolan, Andrew Todd, Curtis Haliday, Kristen Kit
Sailing	3-person keelboat (Sonar)	Paul Tingley, Scott Lutes, Logan Campbell
Swimming	400m Freestyle S10	Benoit Huot
	100m Backstroke	Nicolas-Guy Turbide

ABOUT TEAM CANADA IN RIO: Canada has a team of 162 athletes competing in 19 sports at the Paralympic Games, Sept. 7 to 18. For more information visit: http://paralympic.ca/team-canada-rio-2016

CIBC will be inviting the public to celebrate Team Canada's athletes at local Welcome Home events across Canada in seven communities this week:

Sept 22: Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Calgary

Sept 23: Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal

For more information: [email protected]

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: www.paralympic.ca

Follow the Canadian Paralympic Team:
www.paralympic.ca
www.facebook.com/CDNParalympics
www.twitter.com/CDNParalympics
www.youtube.com/CDNParalympics
www.instagram.com/CDNParalympics

SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)

Image with caption: "Canada finishes these Games with 29 medals (eight gold, 10 silver, 11 bronze) to rank 14th among nations in the total medal count, surpassing the team’s performance goal of top 16. Photo: Canadian Paralympic Committee (CNW Group/Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160918_C2180_PHOTO_EN_775805.jpg

Alison Korn, Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Rio cell: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Martin Richard, Executive Director, Communications and Marketing, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Rio cell: + 55 (21) 99031-7843, Email: [email protected]