Posted: August 22, 2005

Paralympics: Canada wins two gold medals to open European Paralympic track and field championships

ESPOO, Finland- Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., and Eric Gauthier of St-Faustin, Que., each won gold medals while Dean Bergeron of Quebec City added a bronze in opening day action on Monday at the European Paralympic track and field championships for athletes with a disability.

In the women’s T54 category 5,000 metres wheelchair race for paraplegics, Roy earned the gold clocking 13 minutes and 35.26 seconds. She finished ahead of two of the biggest distance racers in the sport. Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland was second in 13:48.00 and her compatriot Sandra Graf third in 13:48.37.

“I raced by myself so it was boring,” said Roy. “I took the lead from the start and after a lap I wanted someone else to get up front as is usually the case (in a long distance race). But after the first lap (400 metres) there was no one behind me.”

In the men’s T53 100 wheelchair race, Gauthier took the gold in 16.98 seconds. Jacques Bouchard of Alma, Que., was sixth in 17.70 and Barry Patriquin of Oxford, N.S., seventh in 17.93.

In the men’s T52 800 wheelchair race for quadriplegics, Santiago Sanz Quinto of Spain won the gold medal in 2:12.40. Bergeron was third in 2:22.80, Andre Beaudoin of Cowansville, Que., fourth in 2:24.18 and Clayton Gerein of Pilot Butte, Sask., sixth in 2:24.46.

Other Canadian finalists were Eric Flemming of Oshawa, Ont., fifth in the men’s T35 100 for cerebral palsy; Jessica Matassa of Windsor, Ont., fifth in the women’s T54 100 and Chelsea Clarke of Mississauga, Ont., Chelsea Lariviere of Mountain, Ont., and Lisa Franks of Saskatoon sixth, seventh and eighth respectively in the women’s T34\53 100.

Canada has fielded a 37-member team for this open competition, its first ever participation at the event. All of Canada’s top stars in Paralympic track and field are on the team including five-time Paralympian Jeff Adams of Toronto and Chantal Petitclerc of Montreal, a quintuple gold medallist at last year’s Paralympic Games in Athens.

“This is a strong team made up of seasoned veterans and promising new talent,” said Jean Laroche, head coach of Athletics Canada’s Paralympic program.  “We were third in the team standings at the Paralympic Games in Athens last year and our goal is to maintain our position as one of the top three nations in the world. This meet will be a good step in preparation for the 2006 Paralympic World Championships.”

At the Paralympic Games, held in Athens, Greece in 2004, Canada sent a team of 42 men and women that brought home a total of 24 medals, including 10 gold, 4 silver and 10 bronze.

Competition runs until Saturday.