OTTAWA – Dean Bergeron of St-Augustin de Desmautes, QC and Chantal Petitclerc from Montreal both won gold today at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. Petitclerc’s medal is her 17th in Paralympic Games competition, she’ll look to add to her impressive medal tally by competing in the 200, 400, 800, and 1500 metre races later this week. Petitclerc swept those five events at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens by winning gold in every one.
In the men’s wheelchair 200 metres T52 classification Bergeron crossed the line in a new Paralympic Record time of 30.81 seconds to claim the gold. Just over an hour later in the Bird’s Nest Stadium Petitclerc held off two Chinese athletes to win gold in the women’s wheelchair 100 metres T54 in a time of 16.15 seconds.
Bergeron’s teammate André Beaudoin from Montreal was 4th in the 200 metres race recording a time of 32.07 seconds. In the women’s wheelchair 400 metres T53 final, Illana Duff from Saskatoon, SK improved her Canadian Record stopping the clock at 58.93 and finishing 6th. This is Duff’s second Canadian Record at these Games having set an earlier record in the heats.
For full results, athlete biographies and other information please visit Athletics.ca.
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