Posted: July 10, 2005

Athletics: Canada concludes successful world championships for athletes with cerebral palsy with five more medals

NEW LONDON, Conn- Wheelchair racer Chelsea Clark of Mississauga, Ont., won her fourth gold medal on Sunday to cap a great performance by the Canadian team at the 38-country multi-sport world championships for athletes with cerebral palsy.

Canada which entered 37 athletes in four of the eight sports won 44 medals at the 11-day competition (18 gold, 16 silver and 10 bronze).

The Canadian track and field team won most of the medals with 11 gold, 12 silver and four bronze. Cycling picked up a gold, four silver and five bronze, and swimming notched five gold, a silver and a bronze. Canada also made its international debut in soccer and placed 11th.

Track and field was the only competition left for the Canadians on Sunday and Clark earned her win in the T34 category 200 metres. She also won the 100, 400 and 800-metre races this week. Chelsea Lariviere Ottawa won the bronze.

Eric Flemming of Oshawa, Ont., added a victory in the men's F35\36 javelin throw reaching 33.18 metres for his second gold.

"I achieved my goal," said Flemming. "I'm currently preparing for the nationals and the European championships this summer. My goal is to reach 38 metres this season and I feel I'm right on track to do that."

Joe Radmore won the silver medal in the T33 200 metre. He had a good start but lost his focus when Lachlan Jones of Australia cut into his lane. There was no call by the officials. Jones won the race.

"This is not a level of officiating you would expect for elite athletes," said Bob Schaefer of Kemptville, Ont., Radmore's coach. "There were a number of lane violations. But overall I'm pleased with how Joe did."

Jim Shaw of Newcastle, Ont., won the bronze in the men's F38 shot put.

Ryan Bennett of Mississauga was fourth in the men's F34 javelin with a personal best 12.09.

Carrie Wallace of Peterborough, Ont., won the women's F34 javelin but won't receive a medal due to a lack of entries. Tara Kowalski of Langley, B.C., lowered her personal best in the women's T33 200 by 14 seconds clocking 53.63 for the win, but again a lack of entries will deny her a medal.

Mark Heidebrecht of Vancouver, Canada's Chef de Mission was delighted with Canada's showing.

"We had some outstanding performances," he said. "They have the set the bar very high for future teams. We were a force to be reckoned with in every discipline. It was an extremely positive showing for Canada, the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association and the organizations we work with."