Canadian para archer Kyle Tremblay hit a bull's-eye in the shoot-off to win the bronze-medal match in the men’s individual compound open Wednesday at the 2023 Parapan American Games.
The dramatic finish was necessary when his opponent, Mexican Victor Sardinia, hit three perfect 10s in the fifth and final round to force the tiebreaker. Sardinia, who is without arms, holds the bow with his right foot, puts the string between his chin and chest, and pulls.
The 32-year-old Tremblay, from Deep River, Ont., had already locked up a Paralympic quota spot for Canada by reaching the bronze-medal match.
"I wanted this one for Canada," said Tremblay, Canada’s sole entry in the sport at the Games. "I got the spot but going home with the medal makes it that much sweeter.
"Victor was amazing, he kept pushing and I had to stay focused. I couldn’t let my mind drift."
In other Canadian results, the women's goalball team shut out Mexico 10-0 to book a semifinal matchup against Brazil, and Lance Cryderman of Sudbury, Ont., picked up a silver medal in boccia.
It was the second straight match Tremblay went to a shoot-off. On Monday, he lost the semifinal to Diego Quesada of Costa Rica when his playoff shot hit just outside the 10-point circle.
"On that last shot I just told myself don’t shoot a nine again and lose." Tremblay said.
Kevin Polish of the U.S. beat Quesada for the gold later Wednesday.
Para archery returned to the Games after not being on the 2019 program.
In goalball, Amy Burk, of Charlottetown, led Canada with five goals. The Canadians have won three straight since dropping their opening preliminary-round match 5-3 to the United States.
The men's goalball team faced Chile in a match later Wednesday.
In boccia, Cryderman took silver after losing 11-0 to Mexico's Eduardo Sanchez in the BC1 men's singles final. It was one of three gold-medal matches featuring a Canadian on Wednesday.
Later in Santiago, Canada faced Brazil in a wheelchair rugby semifinal, and Canada met Puerto Rico in a men's wheelchair basketball quarterfinal.
