THE CANADIAN PRESS
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Canada’s boccia team won five medals, including two golds, as part of an 11-medal haul for Canadian athletes on Wednesday at the 2011 Parapan American Games.
Vancouver’s Paul Gauthier and Adam Dukovich of London, Ont., each won gold, Marco Dispaltro of St-Jerome, Que., took silver, and Vancouver’s Josh Vander Vies and Dave Richer of Ste-Julie, Que., won bronze.
"When you have seven of nine athletes in semifinals, you just go in to finals with a smile on your face," said head coach Mario Delisle. "It’s just fantastic for boccia in Canada and is certainly a good warm up for the London 2012 Paralympics next year."
Canada also won gold medals in swimming and cycling
In the men’s 100 backstroke in the S14 disability class for intellectually challenged athletes, Adam Rahier, from Nanaimo, B.C., took the gold in one minute 6.63 seconds, winning a tight battle over Venezuelan Alberto Vera Moran (1:06.83). Gutemberg Ferraz of Brazil was third.
"I feel so happy about the win," said Rahier, 23. "It’s been a glorious and great competition. I knew to have success I had to stay positive, listen to my coach and swim my heart out."
In the women’s S14 100 backstroke, Kirstie Kasko, from Okotoks, Alta., collected her second gold of the Games in a time of 1:20.10 with Jana Murphy of Victoria second in 1:21.23. Kasko also won the 200 freestyle on Monday.
Murphy now has three medals. She was second in the 100 breaststroke on Sunday and third in the 200 freestyle on Monday.
After four days of racing the Canadian team has 17 medals in the pool –three gold, six silver and eight bronze.
In the women’s 1000-metre cycling time trial, Robbi Weldon of Thunder Bay, Ont., and Lyne Bessette of Magog, Que, captured their third gold of the Games.
In the men’s time trial, Daniel Chalifour of St-Jerome and pilot Ed Veal of Queensville, Ont., won silver to bring their medal count to three.
In athletics, Montreal’s Sarah White won the T53 wheelchair 100-metre silver medal in 20.55 seconds.
Canada’s men’s wheelchair basketball team finished round-robin with a 3-0 record after defeating Mexico 83-57. Patrick Anderson of Fergus, Ont., led the way with 35 points. Canada faces Guatemala in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
In four days of competition, Canada has won 39 medals (10 gold, 14 silver, 15 bronze).