“With Gold in Hockey, Nordic, Alpine, and Curling, this team excelled on every front,” said Chef de Mission Marg McGregor. “Team Canada came to Torino with two objectives: focus on performance to finish in the top 10 with 10 medals, and leave the Games with memories for a lifetime. I am delighted to report that both objectives were achieved and then some!”
“Now is the time to fully savour our success in Torino” said Canadian Paralympic Committee President Henry Wohler. “This team has made a giant step forward for the Paralympic Movement. Canada can be justly proud of them and a big thanks to the Government of Canada and all our sponsors for making it possible. They have helped put our country in the spotlight for fabulously entertaining sport that combines excitement and inspiration. What a team!”
“Our athletes are obviously performing well,” said Wohler. “And, we are already attracting more athletes through Feel the Rush, our involvement/recruitment campaign. We are well on the track to a best ever performance in Vancouver 2010, to be sure.”
As for today’s competition, who says 13 is an unlucky number?
Brian McKeever and his brother/guide Robin took home the silver medal in the Visually Impaired class of the 20 km Cross Country Classic. The brothers’ 4th medal of these Paralympics (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) was Canada’s 13th and final medal of the Torino Paralympics.
“We raced a good race,” Brian McKeever said at the finish. “We just fell a little short.”
The brothers from Canmore, AB finished 11.7 seconds behind the gold medallists from Ukraine.
“I can’t be disappointed in the result,” Brian McKeever said. “That’s all I had. I sure didn’t have 11 more seconds in me.”
The Canadian Alpine Ski team did not fare as well on this last day of Paralaympic competition. Sit-skier Kimberly Joines (Edmonton, AB) did not start the second run of the Women’s Slalom, after placing 9th in the 1st run. Brad Lennea (Whistler, BC) finished in 25th place, Scott Patterson (Vancouver, BC) was 31st and Kitchener, Ontario’s Jeffrey Penner did not finish in the Men’s Sitting Slalom.
CANADIAN RESULTS SUMMARY
Team Canada finished in 6th position with 13 medals
Team Canada was the only country to win medals in all four sports, with Gold in Hockey, Curling, Nordic and Alpine.
25 of the 33 Canadian athletes in Torino will return with medals.
11 Canadian athletes who were competing in their first Paralympic Games won medals for Canada.
All of the Canadian athletes who have won medals at previous games and who competed in Torino won medals.
Canada’s performance at the Torino Games is a credit to the skill dedication and talent of the Canadian athletes, coaches and support staff.
The increasing support and involvement of the national sport governing bodies was also a factor in the success of the team and Canadian Hockey Association, the Canadian Curling Association, Alpine Canada and Cross Country Canada are to be congratulated for their commitment to increasing support for athletes with a disability.
