Kozun, Canada defeat Slovenia
It was a dominant opening performance for Melfort’s Julie Kozun and the Canadian women’s sitting volleyball team as they defeated Slovenia in three straight sets 25-11, 25-21 and 25-12 to earn their first win at the Paralympics.
Kozun recorded two of Canada’s 17 aces in the match, adding to the five other points she tallied in the victory.
Round robin play continues on August 31 with Canada taking on Brazil at 12:00 p.m. Saskatchewan time.
Shaw competes in first event
Midale’s Keely Shaw took part in her first of four Para cycling events on Day 1 of the Paralympics, the women’s C4-5 500-metre track time trial, where she finished 10th overall.
Competing in the qualifying round, Shaw finished with a time of 40.431 seconds. She did not advance to the final round.
Shaw will stay on the track for her next event, the women’s C4 3000-m individual pursuit on August 30 at 4:15 a.m. SK time. She claimed a bronze medal in the same event at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Ouellette makes Paralympic debut
Attending her first Paralympic Games, Saskatoon Para swimmer Hannah Ouellette took part in the women’s S5 200-m freestyle on Day 1.
Ouellette swam a time of 4:03.57 seconds to finish 19th overall and did not advance to the finals.
She’ll have two more events at this year’s Games, the women’s S5 50-m butterfly and the women’s SM5 200-m individual medley.
Newkirk fourth in opening event
In her second Paralympics, Shelby Newkirk finished fourth in the final of the women’s S6 50-m freestyle event with a time of 34.08 seconds.
Newkirk, who hails from Saskatoon and is competing in three events at the Games, qualified for the final by finishing the heats with the fourth-fastest time, 34.15 seconds.
Two more events await Newkirk during the Games, the women’s S7 100-m freestyle and the women’s S6 100-m backstroke.
Paralympic notes: For the second Paralympics in a row, Canada’s first medal was captured by a Para cyclist, as Katie O’Brien won bronze in the women’s C4-C5 500-m track time trial…Aurelie Rivard claimed her 11th Paralympic medal, winning bronze in the women’s S10 50-m freestyle… Canada’s medal count: 2 (0 gold, 0 silver, 2 bronze).
Upcoming Saskatchewan competition
Humboldt’s Jacob Wassermann will make his Paralympic debut on Day 2 of the Paralympics as he competes in the men’s PR1 single sculls heats, starting at 2:10 a.m. SK time.
Keely Shaw of Midale will compete in her second event in Paris on August 30, the women’s C4 track 3000-m individual pursuit. The qualifier will take place at 4:11 a.m. SK time, with the final to follow at 7:22 a.m.
The Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball team, featuring Regina’s Nik Goncin and Garrett Ostepchuk, will play their first game on August 30, taking on the host France at 10:15 a.m. SK time.