The Paralympics in Paris have officially begun!
Led by flag bearers Patrick Anderson, a six-time Paralympian with the men’s wheelchair basketball team, and Para swimmer Katarina Roxon, who is attending her fifth Games, Team Canada paraded from Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde.
Over the next 11 days, Canada’s 126 athletes will battle to reach the top of the podium and become Paralympic champions.
Upcoming Saskatchewan competition
In the pool, Saskatoon’s Shelby Newkirk will compete in her first of several events in Paris, the women’s S6 50-metre freestyle at 3:03 a.m. Saskatchewan time. Finals are scheduled for later in the morning at 11:17 a.m. SK time, should she advance.
Also in the pool, Saskatoon’s Hannah Ouellette will make her Paralympic debut, competing in the women’s S5 200-m freestyle at 3:52 a.m. SK time. Finals for this event are the same day, at 12:40 p.m. SK time, if she advances.
Midale’s Para cyclist Keely Shaw, who captured Canada’s first medal in Tokyo 2020, will race in the women’s C4-5 500-m track time trial qualifying round at 4 a.m. SK time, with the finals to follow at 7:45 a.m. SK time.
Meanwhile, Melfort’s Julie Kozun and the Canadian women’s sitting volleyball team will begin the Paralympics with round robin action against Slovenia, starting at 10 a.m. Saskatchewan time.