paralympian

Canada’s Brian McKeever and his guide Graham Nishikawa compete during the men’s middle distance free technique vision impaired event of para cross country skiing at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, in Zhangjiakou, China, Saturday, March 12, 2022. McKeever is retiring after capturing 20 medals over six Games, many with brother Robin as his guide. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Shuji Kajiyama

Paralympic sport in a far better place thanks to Canada’s McKeever, Westlake, Bridges

Special athletes have pushed the envelope of Para-sport in Canada

 

Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team member Brian McKeever skis up a hill during early season training in Canmore, Alta., Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. McKeever of Canmore, Alta., along with guide Graham Nishikawa, won gold in the men’s para cross-country middle distance vision impaired race at the 2022 Winter Paralympics. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canada’s Brian McKeever wins historic 16th Paralympic gold medal

The 42-year-old has won 20 Paralympic medals over the course of his career

 

Mollie Jepsen of Canada celebrates after competing in the women’s giant slalom, standing at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 11, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Canada adds four medals at Beijing Paralympics, guaranteed another in hockey

Medal count now at seven golds, four silvers, and 10 bronze

 

Tyler Turner of Canada competes on his way to winning the men’s snowboard cross SB-LL1 final at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

5 years after skydiving crash, Canada’s Turner races to Paralympic gold medal

Campbell River snowboarder overcame some dark days on his journey to the podium

Tyler Turner of Canada competes on his way to winning the men’s snowboard cross SB-LL1 final at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Canadian Paralympic athlete Greg Westlake poses for a photo at the Paralympic Summit in Calgary, Alta., Monday, June 5, 2017.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

‘I just want to keep pushing boundaries’: Greg Westlake proud of Paralympic career

35-year-old has been a forward on Canada’s Para hockey team for more than 16 years

Canadian Paralympic athlete Greg Westlake poses for a photo at the Paralympic Summit in Calgary, Alta., Monday, June 5, 2017.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
This 2018 file photo shows Mollie Jepson celebrating at the Paralympics in at the Jeongseon Alpine Center in Jeongseon, South Korea. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Mollie Jepsen golden at Beijing Paralympics for Canada’s first medal of Games

Jepsen has now won five medals over the course of her Paralympic career

This 2018 file photo shows Mollie Jepson celebrating at the Paralympics in at the Jeongseon Alpine Center in Jeongseon, South Korea. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Guo Yujie and Wang Zhidong carry the flag of China as they make their entrance during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

As war rages, Paralympics open in Beijing without Russia

Paralympic organizers initially announced Russians and Belarusians would be allowed to compete

Guo Yujie and Wang Zhidong carry the flag of China as they make their entrance during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Canadian Paralympic athlete Ina Forrest poses for a photo at the Paralympic Summit in Calgary, Alta., Monday, June 5, 2017.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

B.C. wheelchair curler 1 of 2 to carry Canada’s Paralympic flag

Paralympic flag-bearer duties will be shared by two Canadian athletes for the first time

Canadian Paralympic athlete Ina Forrest poses for a photo at the Paralympic Summit in Calgary, Alta., Monday, June 5, 2017.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Jessica Tuomela, right with current guide dog Brandy, will be joined in a professional capacity next month by Lucy the golden retriever. The duo will assist in locating missing people from vulnerable populations. (Courtesy of Jessica Tuomela)

Blind B.C. Paralympian and super-sniffing pooch prep to find missing people

Jessica Tuomela, partnering with trained canine Lucy, aims to keep vulnerable Canadians safe

Jessica Tuomela, right with current guide dog Brandy, will be joined in a professional capacity next month by Lucy the golden retriever. The duo will assist in locating missing people from vulnerable populations. (Courtesy of Jessica Tuomela)
Spallumcheen’s Ina Forrest and Team Canada got into the win column with a pair of victories Sunday, Oct. 24, at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships in Beijing. The event is being held at the same venue that will host the sport at the 2022 Paralympics. (Team Canada Photo)

B.C. curler helps Canada win at World Wheelchair championships

Three-time world champ Ina Forrest of Spallumcheen scores wins over Switzerland and host China Sunday, Oct. 24

Spallumcheen’s Ina Forrest and Team Canada got into the win column with a pair of victories Sunday, Oct. 24, at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships in Beijing. The event is being held at the same venue that will host the sport at the 2022 Paralympics. (Team Canada Photo)
Danielle Ellis and Team Canada made it all the way to a medal match in seated volleyball at the Tokyo Paralympics. (Canadian Paralympic Committee photo)

A fourth-place finish for Canada’s seated volleyball team and Langley’s Danielle Ellis

Best showing yet in event at Paralympics

Danielle Ellis and Team Canada made it all the way to a medal match in seated volleyball at the Tokyo Paralympics. (Canadian Paralympic Committee photo)
Team Canada in the women’s sitting volleyball is ready to fight for the bronze medal on Saturday, against Brazil. (World ParaVolley/Special to Langley Advance Times)

Langley athlete leads Canada into play for Paralympic bronze

Danielle Ellis and the rest of the women’s sitting volleyball team go up against Brazil on Saturday

Team Canada in the women’s sitting volleyball is ready to fight for the bronze medal on Saturday, against Brazil. (World ParaVolley/Special to Langley Advance Times)
Katelyn Wright (left) and Heidi Peters (right) will be back on court with the women’s sitting volleyball team on Friday for the semifinals versus China. (Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Dave Holland/Special to Langley Advance Times)

Seated volleyball captain realizes dream of Paralympic semifinals

Langley City’s Danielle Ellis and the rest of the women’s Team Canada play China Friday

Katelyn Wright (left) and Heidi Peters (right) will be back on court with the women’s sitting volleyball team on Friday for the semifinals versus China. (Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Dave Holland/Special to Langley Advance Times)
Lauren Barwick of Aldergrove and Sandrino rode to a sixth-place finish in the Individual Freestyle on Monday, Aug. 30, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan. (Jon Stroud Media/special to Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Aldergrove’s Lauren Barwick had to scramble when she became a last-minute addition to Paralympics riding event

‘Pleased and grateful to the universe for the opportunity to ride’

Lauren Barwick of Aldergrove and Sandrino rode to a sixth-place finish in the Individual Freestyle on Monday, Aug. 30, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan. (Jon Stroud Media/special to Langley Advance Times)
Noni Hartvikson training her farm in South Langley. Riding for Canada, Hartvikson helped boost the team into the top-10 at the Paralympics in Tokyo. (Courtney Palleson/special to Langley Advance Times)

Aldergrove’s Lauren Barwick and South Langley’s Noni Hartvikson ride to a top-10 finish at Paralympics

Team Canada improves on its 2016 para-dressage finish

Noni Hartvikson training her farm in South Langley. Riding for Canada, Hartvikson helped boost the team into the top-10 at the Paralympics in Tokyo. (Courtney Palleson/special to Langley Advance Times)
Canada defeated Italy 3-1 (25-16, 25-14, 15-25, 25-18) to even their record at 1-1 in sitting volleyball on Saunday, Aug. 29 at the Tokyo Paralympics. (World ParaVolley/special to Langley Advance Times)

Langley’s Ellis gets 11 points as Canada downs Italy in Paralympics seated volleyball play

Up next, Japan, where a win would mean playing in the finals

Canada defeated Italy 3-1 (25-16, 25-14, 15-25, 25-18) to even their record at 1-1 in sitting volleyball on Saunday, Aug. 29 at the Tokyo Paralympics. (World ParaVolley/special to Langley Advance Times)
South Langley rider Nonie Hartvikson and Onyx set the pace for Canada in day one of the Team Test on Aug. 28, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan. (Jon Stroud Media/special to Langley Advance Times)

Strong performances by Aldergrove and South Langley riders puts Team Canada in the lead at Paralympics

Remaining classes of competitors yet to ride

South Langley rider Nonie Hartvikson and Onyx set the pace for Canada in day one of the Team Test on Aug. 28, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan. (Jon Stroud Media/special to Langley Advance Times)
Captain Danielle Ellis of Langley and the Canadian sitting volleyball team fell to Brazil today in the Paralympics happening in Tokyo. They play next Sunday, at 2 p.m. – their time. (World ParaVolley/Special to Langley Advance Times)

Local putting big points on sitting volleyball scoreboard during Paralympic Games

Canada’s women’s team captain Danielle Ellis – who hails from Langley –is leading the team in Tokyo

Captain Danielle Ellis of Langley and the Canadian sitting volleyball team fell to Brazil today in the Paralympics happening in Tokyo. They play next Sunday, at 2 p.m. – their time. (World ParaVolley/Special to Langley Advance Times)
Onyx trots with Courtney Palleson for Noni Hartvikson of South Langley at the para-dressage horse inspection, held Aug. 25, 2021, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan. (Jon Stroud Media/special to Langley Advance Times)

Aldergrove and South Langley competitors preparing for start of para-dressage at Tokyo Paralympics

Lauren Barwick and Noni Hartvikson on four-person Canadian team

Onyx trots with Courtney Palleson for Noni Hartvikson of South Langley at the para-dressage horse inspection, held Aug. 25, 2021, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan. (Jon Stroud Media/special to Langley Advance Times)
Canada’s Aurelie Rivard swims her way to a silver medal for the women’s SM10 (Para) 200m Individual Medley during the swimming finals at the Commonwealth Games on April 7, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Para swim star Rivard buoyed by performance of Canadians at Tokyo Olympics

The crowdless Paralympics run from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5 to Tokyo

Canada’s Aurelie Rivard swims her way to a silver medal for the women’s SM10 (Para) 200m Individual Medley during the swimming finals at the Commonwealth Games on April 7, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz