They’re back from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games!
Just a day after the closing ceremony, and 11 days of competition, some of our nation’s stellar athletes landed at Montreal’s Trudeau airport on Monday — Team Canada brining home 29 medals.
“I think it just made us so happy to see that anywhere in the world,” said Aurélie Rivard, Canadian Paralympic swimmer. “People want to watch Paralympic sport.”
“And they were excited,” she added. “They didn’t really make a difference between the Olympic sport, which was amazing to see.”
For Rivard, she struck gold — again!
Winning the women’s S10 400-metre freestyle for the third consecutive Paralympic Games.
She’s even the world record holder in the event
“I just felt super proud,” explained the 28-year-old. “I was happy to share that moment with the members of my family and my teammates as well.”
A dominant force on Canada’s Para swimming team — Rivard’s medal collection now totals to 13 – six of those gold.
Something the nation, her community and family are proud of.
“It was a hard battle and she did it,” explained Nadine Galipeau, Rivard’s mother. “She made it.”
As for Team Canada — a staggering 10 gold, nine silver, and 10 bronze was claimed this year — making the podium in seven sports.
“It kind of exceeded any expectations that we had,” said Alison Levine, Paralympian in the sport of boccia. “Especially following our COVID games in Tokyo.”
“We were just so excited to have people back.”
“Sold out, filled stadiums almost every single night,” said Tess Routliffe, Canadian Paralympic swimmer. “The swimming was insane.”
“I’ve never had a crowd that big,” she added. “And that loud and that excited honestly.”
The results surpassed the 21 medals won in Tokyo.
And the most gold since they took 19 in Beijing in 2008.
“Take whatever your wildest dreams are,” said Trinity Lowthian, Canadian wheelchair fencer. “And multiply that by 10.”
“It was absolutely incredible.”
“The great, big family of athletes,” said Iulian Ciobanu, Paralympian in the sport of boccia. “Seeing them competing together, it’s really, really, really cool.”
For Rivard, taking home gold again — a feeling she said that never gets old.
“When you step on the podium,” she explained. “I can kind of see a retrospective of the last three years.”
“It’s just been an amazing experience.”
