Swimmer Summer Mortimer adds to medal collection with bronze - her fourth medal in London

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LONDON, UK, Sept. 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Para swimmer Summer Mortimer of Ancaster, Ont., earned her fourth medal at the Paralympic Games on Thursday.

Mortimer placed third in the women's S10 100 freestyle clocking 1:01.58.  Sophie Pasco of New Zealand took the gold in a Games record 1:00.89 and Elodie Lorandie of France was second in 1:01.09.  Sixteen-year-old Aurélie Rivard of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., took fourth spot in 1:02.12.

''It wasn't the best race,'' said Mortimer, 19.  ''Everyone is tired.  Technically it could have been better.  I had some issues this morning with that and I tried to work them out.  But overall it was a great experience, I love to race these girls.''

Rivard was coming off a silver medal in the 400 freestyle on Wednesday, her first career Paralympic medal.

"It was a crazy race," said Rivard.  "I wasn't expecting that at all.  I got a great result and improved my world ranking.  My legs were still hurting from yesterday but I gave all I had."

In the men's S10 100 freestyle, Benoit Huot of Montreal and Nathan Steen of Maple Ridge, B.C., were fourth and fifth in 53.32 and 53.59. respectively.

"This was the only race I didn't go best time but I'm still really happy with my Games," said Huot, 28, who won a gold, silver and bronze this week to bring his career total to 19 Paralympic medals.  "It's been a magical and memorable week.  I'm leaving London with a smile on my face."

ATHLETICS

Canadian track and field athletes recorded a pair of top eight finishes today in athletics competition at the Paralympic Games. Josh Cassidy and Rachael Burrows, both of Ottawa, Ont., finished fifth and sixth respectively in the T54 800-metres and T34 200-metres.

Josh Cassidy avoided a crash in the men's T54 wheelchair 800-metre final to finish sixth overall in a time of 1:39.72. However a short time after the posting of the official results, the Chinese athlete was disqualified, bumping Cassidy up to fifth.

"I was able to avoid the crash and expended a lot of energy getting back into the race," said Cassidy. "I'm feeling better day by day and looking forward to Sunday."

Cassidy competes in the marathon Sunday at 11:30 a.m. local time (6:30 a.m. Eastern Time).

Rachael Burrows was sixth in the women's T34 200-metre final in 38.51 seconds.

"It was definitely a better race than this morning, my start was much better," said Burrows. "I had a much better start and I performed well by my standards. This has been a wonderful experience and I'm very blessed and thankful to have represented Canada."

Burrows qualified for the final earlier today by placing third in her qualifying heat with a time of 39.59 seconds. Burrows will return from her first Paralympic Games experience with two top eight finishes to her name. Earlier this week she finished eighth in the 100-metres.

Keira-Lyn Frie of Saskatoon, Sask., and Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., both placed fourth in their respective T54 wheelchair 1500-metre heats to advance to tomorrow's final at 9:08pm local time (4:08pm eastern time). Frie stopped the clock at 3:42.59 while Roy crossed the finish line in 3:32.27.

In the men's T11 visually impaired 400-metres Jonathan Dunkerley of Ottawa, Ont., and guide runner Sean Young of Ottawa, Ont., clocked 55.27 seconds for third in their heat and did not advance to the final.

In the same event Dustin Walsh of Coquitlam, B.C., and guide runner Dylan Williamson of Langley, B.C., appeared to have finished second in their heat in a personal best time of 53.64 seconds. However following the race they were disqualified for a lane violation and did not advance to the final.

Braedon Dolfo of Langley, B.C., finished fourth in 23.25 seconds in his heat of the T13 visually impaired 200-metres and did not advance to the final.

In the women's T37 400-metres Leah Robinson of Mannheim, Ont., finished fifth in her heat in a time of 1:16.94 and did not advance to the final.

BOCCIA

It was a heartbreaking day today for the Canadian boccia team who saw their chances of moving to the quarterfinal round disappear. Adam Dukovich (London, ON), Josh Vander Vies (Vancouver, BC), Paul Gauthier (Vancouver, BC) and Marco Dispaltro (St-Jérôme, QC) all suffered losses in the 1/8 round.

BC2 events

Dukovich, ranked fifth in the world in the BC2 category, played a tough match against Maciel Sousa Santos from Brazil. Sousa Santos dominated three of the four ends by scoring two points in the first end, four in the second and three in the third end. Dukovich tried to bounce back in the last end, scoring three points and ending the match 3-9 against Brazil. Dukovich finished in 14^th place overall in the BC2 category.

BC3 events

Four time Paralympic medallist Paul Gauthier lost 5-7 against Portuguese José Macedo. Gauthier scored the first and only point in the first end of the match but Macedo counter-attacked by scoring three points in the next end. Gauthier bounced back with energy in the third end to score four points, only to be defeated in the last end when his opponent scored four points to finish the match 5-7 for Portugal. Gauthier finished 9^th overall in the BC3 category.

BC4 events

This week's bronze medallist in pairs events, Josh Vander Vies, faced the BC4 world champion in this round. Eliseu dos Santos, from Brazil, dominated the game by scoring one, three, zero and four points in each end. Vander vies was only able to score one point in the third end. The game ended 1-8 for Brazil. Dispaltro finished 15^th overall in the BC4 category.

"I'm disappointed but winning the bronze in the doubles (mixed pairs BC4 with Marco Dispaltro) was spectacular," said Vander Vies. "I've been on the boccia team for nine years now so that was beautiful. I wanted to chase a medal in the individual as well but unfortunately drew the No.1 seed in the first round. I'm disappointed with the result but proud of the way I played."

Marco Dispaltro, a bronze medallist earlier this week with Vander Vies, competed in a nail-biting match against Peter McGuire from Great-Britain. The British favourite scored one, and then two points in the two first ends. Dispaltro had an amazing comeback in the third end, scoring three points and tying the score. In the last few seconds of the last end, McGuire scored one point to end the match 3-4. Dispaltro finished 9^th overall in the BC4 category.

"My expectations were very high," said Dispaltro. "I was hoping to reach the podium so not reaching it is going to be a tough pill to swallow. At least I go home with some hardware from the pairs."

Canada's boccia team will go back home with one bronze medal in BC4 pairs events won by Dispaltro and Vander Vies on Sept. 4.

CYCLING

The first set of road races were held today in London at the 2012 Paralympic Games, and Marie-Claude Molnar posted the best result of the Canadian squad competing, finishing the Women C4-5 race in 13^th place

Fresh off her bronze medal in the time trial race just yesterday, Molnar posted the third time among the riders in her category, C4. At Paralympic Games, categories are combined for the road races. 

"These Paralympic Games were an amazing experience," said Molnar. "I finished fourth in the individual pursuit on the track and won a bronze medal yesterday in the road time trial. We can now build on this to be better and with the team we have surrounding me I think this is possible. Once again I gave everything I had in the race today I don't have any regrets."

Sébastien Travers, coach of the Canadian Para-cycling Team: "We finished today all the competitions for the C category, we made amazing improvement on both the track and the time trial. Marie-Claude Molnar won a bronze medal in the time trial, and finished fourth on the track. Everyone beat their personal best time on the track. The future looks good and we know we can build on this for Rio 2016."

In the Men C1-3, Canada was not so fortunate, seeing its three riders, Jaye Milley, Brayden McDougall and Arnold Boldt, posting DNF results. Boldt did not finish as he was forced to abandon suffering from a back pain. Milley finished the race, but his result did not count as he was lapped by the winner in the last lap. For McDougall, he suffered from mechanical issues, and lost valuable time only to be lapped by the pack later on.

"Today was pretty awesome," said Milley, of Calgary, AB. "It was probably my favorite course I have ever ridden on. I went on the race to give everything I had. From the start of the gun, I was completely maxed out. I gave it all I've got, and I am pretty satisfied with my first Paralympic road race."

Added Milley, about his first Paralympic Games: "I can't think of words right now. It's amazing. It's tremendous. This was a dream come true for me. Everyone has a dream, and some people have achieved it, and they know the feeling. Everything from start to finish was tremendous."

"This is my second Paralympic Games," said Brayden McDougall, also of Calgary. "I just completed the road events, for the Men C1-3 category. Overall I am very happy with everything that London has. If you look around and see the crowds here, they were unbelievable. In facts, I am getting goose bumps right now just thinking about it. To have my parents and family makes it even more special."  

Canadian results are: 13. Marie-Claude Molnar, Women C4-5 (1:58.44); Jaye Milley, Men C1-3 (DNF); Arnold Boldt, Men C1-3 (DNF); Brayden McDougall, Men C1-3 (DNF)   The road cycling events at the 2012 Paralympic Games continue tomorrow with the second day of the road races.

SAILING

In sailing today the last race was delayed, then cancelled due to lack of wind on the final day of competition.

"The weather was a challenge for us today," said Chris Atkins, Field of Play media liaison. "We didn't want an unfair race for the competitors. We have had 10 really good races to date. We didn't want to risk one bad day to decide the medals."

In the One Person Keel Boat, Paul Tingley ended the regatta in (Halifax, NS) fifth place.

Stacie Louttit (Victoria, BC) and John McRoberts (Victoria, BC) placed fourth in the Two Person Mixed Boat - SKUD-18.

"Obviously there's disappointment in coming in fourth," said McRoberts. "But to be honest, the other countries sailed better than we did. I'm still proud of where we finished. We ended up being the top Canadian sailing team in both the Olympics and Paralympics."

The three-Person Keel Boat - Sonar (Logan Campbell, Saskatoon; Scott Lutes, Montreal; Bruce Millar, Victoria) finished in 10^th place.

"It's obviously not what we came for," said Lute. "It was a tough fleet. Any of the top eight teams were capable of winning this regatta. We really thought we were one of those eight."

SWIMMING

In the women's S8 100 freestyle, Morgan Bird of Calgary lowered her Canadian record to 1:10.97 in a sixth place finish.  She ends her individual events at her first Paralympics with three finals and three personal bests.

"I couldn't have asked for a better race," said Bird.  "I was trying to implement the same techniques and stroke rates as in the prelims but doing a better job of controlling the front end and coming back stronger."

In the women's S7 400 freestyle, Brianna Nelson of Victoria completed her eighth event in eight days finishing sixth in a personal best 5:40.64.  She has earned two silver medals so far.

''I'm really tired but otherwise O.K.,'' said Nelson, 20.  ''These Games have been a really great experience.  There were results I didn't expect and others I wished I had done better but I'll definitely look back at the Games very fondly.''

In the men's S11 100 butterfly, Donovan Tildesley of Vancouver came within 0.22 of his Canadian record placing eighth.

Other Canadian results: Zach McAllister of Lethbridge, Alta., was 10^th in the men's S8 100 freestyle;  Katarina Roxon of Stephenville, N.L., was 10^th in the women's S9 200 individual medley; Brianna Jennett-McNeill of Russell, Ont., 10th in the women's S10 100 freestyle; Kirstie Kasko of Calgary 12^th and Jana Murphy of Victoria 15^th in the women's S14 100 breaststroke; Michael Heath of Woodstock, Ont., was 13^th in the men's S14 100 breaststroke; Isaac Bouckley of Whitby, Ont., was 15^th in the men's S10 100 freestyle; Camille Bérubé of Gatineau, Que., and Sarah Mailhot of Quebec City 16^th and 19^th in the women's S8 100 freestyle.

After eight days of competition, Canadian Para swimmers have collected three gold, eight silver and two bronze.

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

The Canadian Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team poured in the points against Mexico on Thursday and set a team offensive record by outscoring their opponent 74-53 (their highest output in the last four Paralympics). Canada, who finished fifth at the 2008 Beijing Games, will look to match that standing in their final London 2012 game Friday September 7 at 10:45 a.m. BST.

Canada made it clear from the opening tipoff that they were unwilling to simply roll over following a disappointing quarterfinal defeat on Tuesday. They came out firing on all cylinders and almost immediately went on a 16-point run to put them up 30-4 at the end of the first quarter.

It took Janet McLachlan, of Vancouver, BC, less than ten minutes to land her sixth double-double in as many games. The tournament's leading point producer and rebounder continues her torrid pace finishing with 24 points and 13 rebounds - both game highs.

On the men's side, the finals are set - Canada will take on arch-rivals Australia for the Paralympic gold medal after defeating Great Britain 69-52 in their semi-final on Thursday.

Fergus, Ontario's Patrick Anderson led a spirited Canadian offence, falling one rebound short of a triple-double (17 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds). Joey Johnson, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, bolstered the Canadian attack with 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Wonowon, BC's Bo Hedges chipped in with 12 points.

The first two quarters were evenly matched, as the determined British team stifled Canada's shooting - the Canucks shot just 38% from the floor in the first two frames, but were still able to take a 33-27 lead into halftime. Canada then began to pull away in the third quarter, outscoring Great Britain 24-10, and sealed the victory in the fourth.

The gold medal match vs Australia, who edged Canada 72-60 for the 2008 Paralympic gold medal, will be Saturday September 8 at 9:15 p.m. BST.

WHEELCHAIR FENCING

Pierre Mainville of St-Colomban Que., earned Canada's best ever result in wheelchair fencing at the Paralympic Games on Thursday by ranking fifth in men's sabre but he was still very disappointed.

Mainville breezed through the preliminary round which was worth a bye in the round of 16 before falling to Russian Alexandr Kurzin in the quarterfinals. Mainville was also ninth Wednesday in men's epee.

"It's not a terrible result, but it's not what I wanted," said Mainville, who went 0-5 in the sabre prelims at the 2008 Paralympics. "I had all the tools to do a lot better, and I didn't do it. All the competitors here have great strategy and great technique. The difference is your mental strength."

In the preliminary round, the 39-year-old Mainville, cheered by his wife and two young children, earned three victories in four bouts including a 5-1 trouncing of world number-two Marc-André Cratère of France.

He also defeated in the prelims, Carlos Soler Marquez of Spain 5-2, Chik Sum Tam of Hong Kong 5-3 before falling to world number-five to Grzegorz Pluta of Poland 5-1.

"I came out strong and I was ready," said Mainville.

Mainville, ranked eighth in the world, had defeated the world number six Kurzin earlier this year in World Cup competition.

"There was no reason to lose that bout"' said Mainville,, who became a paraplegic in 2002, an innocent victim in a shooting incident. "I have no injuries and I've worked so hard the last four years.  I saw my coach more than my family.  It's frustrating."

Mainville's quarterfinal match remained close through the first half before Kurzin broke a 9-9 tie with six unanswered points to win 15-9.

Canada's other wheelchair fencer Sylvie Morel of Pincourt, Que., did not advance past the preliminary round in women's epee on Wednesday.

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY

Canada's Wheelchair Rugby team (Ian Chan, Richmond, BC; Jason Chrone, Owen Sound, ON; Patrice Dagenais, Embrun, ON; Jared Funk, Niverville, MB; Garett Hickling, Kelowna, BC; Trevor Hirschfield, Vancouver, BC; Fabien Lavoiem Quebec, QC; Zak Madell, Okotoks, AB; Travis Murao, Richmond, BC; Patrice Simard, Quebec, QC; Mike Whitehead, Harrow, ON; David Willsie, Dorchester, ON; Kevin Orr, Coach, Algonquin, IL, USA),  ranked No.2 in the world faced seventh-ranked Belgium in their second match of round robin play.

After a back and forth-filled first half, Canada started to pull away in the third with impressive offense from 18-year-old Zac Madell and veteran Mike Whitehead, and repeat goals from Trevor Hirschfield. Canada won the match 58-50.

They will next face Sweden in a bid to make the semi-finals, tomorrow Sept. 7 at 19:00 local time.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations.

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SOURCE: CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (CPC)