Para cyclist Alexandre Hayward, pictured at Paris 2024, is among the promising young Canadian athletes who could make a big impact at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. (Dave Holland/Canadian Paralympic Committee/Handout/The Canadian Press)
The curtain has closed on the Paris Paralympics, and for Canadian athletes, the four-year cycle of competition begins anew. Much like their Olympic counterparts, Para athletes in Canada gear up for the next big event as they balance training, competitions, and the quest for medals. This rhythm is familiar at every level, from grassroots sports to major competitions like the Canada Games, all of which follow a four-year cycle. Funding organizations also track these cycles, noticing shifts as certain sports rise in prominence while others fade.
Three years ago, when the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics concluded, the landscape of Para sports looked different. Due to the pandemic, fans couldn’t attend the events, and some sports had reduced participation. However, in the years since, the Paralympic movement has grown, expanding to new athletes and countries. Social media attention has increased, and new sports like Para Canoe have had the opportunity to thrive. Beyond the competition, the Paralympics continue to strive for a better world for over a billion people living with disabilities.
As we reflect on Paris 2024, it’s also essential to look ahead to the upcoming Winter Paralympics in just two years. For Canadian athletes, this means fresh opportunities and challenges as they prepare for the next phase of their journey.
A notable story from the Paris Games was Canada’s strong performance, despite sending a slightly smaller team. Led by experienced athletes Patrick Anderson and Katarina Roxon, the Canadian team earned 29 medals, surpassing their total from Tokyo. Canada’s success primarily came in swimming and track events, but there were several impressive firsts. Alexandre Hayward won a medal in Para cycling, Reid Maxwell, Canada’s youngest athlete at the Games, earned a silver in swimming, and Leanne Taylor became the first Canadian woman to win a medal in Para triathlon.
The future looks promising for Canada’s Para athletes, with a blend of seasoned competitors and fresh talent. Nicholas Bennett, a three-time medallist at just 20 years old, and Brianna Hennessy, who won Canada’s first Para canoe medal, are poised to lead the next generation. Bennett and Hennessy symbolize the growing Para sports environment, where success is determined not by age but by perseverance.
As the excitement of the Games fades, some athletes are already preparing for retirement. Patrick Anderson, a key figure in Canadian Para sports, has hinted that Paris was his final Games. Other athletes, like Greg Stewart, even came out of retirement to compete. This turnover is a natural part of Para sports, as athletes either reach the pinnacle of their careers or decide to step away due to the financial instability of sports. Some, like Nathan Clement, may even switch to entirely new sports.
Recruiting new talent for Para sports is a challenge, especially in lower classifications, where finding athletes is more difficult. This recruitment will be vital as Canada prepares for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics, which will introduce Para climbing to the program. Although Para surfing enthusiasts were disappointed that their sport wasn’t included in LA 2028, there’s hope it will be featured in Brisbane 2032.
While the focus is often on athletes competing at the Paralympics, there are still gaps in Canada’s representation. Despite participating in 18 sports, Canada didn’t field teams in blind football, powerlifting, Para taekwondo, and Para shooting. Men’s sitting volleyball also failed to qualify. As Canada prepares for the Los Angeles Games, the country will likely aim to fill these gaps and increase its presence in all sports.
Another area of growth for the Canadian Paralympics is representation from Indigenous communities. Historically, there has been a low number of Indigenous athletes at the Paralympics, but efforts to develop grassroots programs in these communities are starting to show results. Eel River Bar First Nation’s Desiree Isaac-Pictou, who competed in women’s wheelchair basketball, is one example of this progress. There’s hope that more Indigenous athletes will join the Paralympic movement in the future.
Additionally, representation from the 2SGLBTQ+ community is another area where the Paralympic movement is growing. This year, one Canadian athlete used they/them pronouns, and Italy’s Valentina Petrillo made history as the first openly transgender athlete at the Paralympics. However, there’s still room for improvement in making sports spaces more inclusive beyond just focusing on disability.
Lastly, the tradition of athletes competing in both the Winter and Summer Paralympics continues. Canadian athletes like Cindy Ouellet, who competed in both wheelchair basketball and Para alpine skiing, exemplify this crossover. With the Winter Paralympics just two years away, some athletes may consider switching sports to extend their careers and chase new opportunities.
The Paralympic movement remains a complex, unique blend of elite competition and a drive to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Over the next four years, we can expect to see more athletes achieving greatness while the movement continues to grow and evolve.
