DAY TWELVE/TOTAL RECAP – SEPTEMBER 5, 2021
With Day 12 of competition and the Closing Ceremony taking place on the same day, the Tokyo Paralympics have officially come to an end with Canada capturing 21 medals overall, including five gold, 10 silver and six bronze.
Four of those silvers belonged to wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos, who was named Canada’s flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony.
No Saskatchewan athletes competed on the final day of the Games, but here’s a recap of how they did.
Making her Paralympic debut, Midale’s Keely Shaw captured Canada’s first medal of the Games on Day 1 of competition with the para cyclist winning bronze on the track in the women’s C4 3,000-metre individual pursuit. She completed the race with a time of three minutes and 48.34 seconds.
Shaw also finished fourth in the road cycling time trial (42:11.09) and 13th in the road race (time not available).
In the pool, Saskatchewan was represented by a pair of Paralympic first timers: Saskatoon’s Shelby Newkirk and Meadow Lake’s Nikita Ens. The members of the Saskatoon Lasers Swimming Club were joined at the Games by their coach Eric Kramer.
Newkirk set a Canadian record of 1:22.83 seconds to finish fourth in the women’s S6 100-m backstroke, set another Canadian record in the S6 50-m freestyle to finish ninth in her heat with a time of 35.50 seconds —just out of qualifying for the final— and also competed in the S7 100-m freestyle where she finished her heat with a time of 1:19.06, but did not advance to the final.
Although Ens wasn’t able to advance to the final in any of her events, she did set a Canadian record in the women’s SM4 150-m individual medley with a time of 4:34.01. She also competed in the S3 50-m backstroke (1:10.82) and the S3 100-m freestyle (2:32.56).
Melfort’s Julie Kozun and the Canadian women’s sitting volleyball team came close to capturing bronze at the Games, but were denied by Brazil, losing 3-1 in the bronze medal final. Canada finished the round robin with a 2-1 —defeating Italy and Japan, but falling to Brazil— which earned them a place in the semifinals where they lost to China 3-0.
Kozun, who at 21 was the youngest member of the Canadian squad, made her Paralympic debut in Tokyo.
On the basketball court, 2016 Paralympian Nik Goncin and first-time Paralympian Garrett Ostepchuk, both of Regina, helped Canada to an eighth-place finish, bettering their 11th finish in Rio.
While Canada finished their round robin by winning their final two games, they had a tough time at the start, losing three straight —including an overtime defeat to Turkey— to finish 2-3. Fortunately, their record was good enough to advance them to quarter-finals. Unfortunately, they lost that game 66-52 to Great Britain and then the ensuing 7th/8th place game to Germany 68-56.
In wheelchair racing, Regina resident Jessica Frotten made her Paralympic debut competing in four events. In the women’s T53 400-m race, she finished in eighth place among all the heats, which advanced her to the final where she finished eighth with a time of 59.98 seconds.
Frotten didn’t advance to the finals in any of her other three events, which included the women’s T53 800-m (1:56.79), T54 1,500-m (3:52.23) and the universal 4×100-m relay (49.38).
Rounding out the Saskatchewan athletes who competed at Tokyo was wheelchair fencer Ryan Rousell of Asquith, who made his Paralympic debut. Rousell competed in both the men’s Class A Sabre and Epee events. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to advance out of pool play in either of the events.
On the coaching front, Regina’s Frank Gaudet accompanied the lone member of the Canadian Para badminton team, Olivia Meier, who finished fifth; Broadview’s Carla Nicholls was part of the Para athletics team, which claimed multiple medals, and Regina’s John Wetzstein assisted the seven-athlete Para rowing team.
Find all the Saskatchewan results and highlights cheeronsask.ca.
Canada loses bronze to Brazil in women’s sitting volleyball
The Canadian women’s sitting volleyball team, including Melfort’s Julie Kozun, lost to Brazil 3-1 in the bronze medal match of Day 11 of the Paralympics.
Brazil won the opening set 25-15, but the red and white fought hard in the following two sets, winning the second 26-24 before losing third 24-26. The fourth and final set went to Brazil 25-14 as did the victory and the bronze medal.
Read more at cheeronsask.ca.
Newkirk finishes fourth, sets Canadian record
In her final event of the Tokyo Paralympics, the women’s S6 100-metre backstroke, Para swimmer Shelby Newkirk set a new Canadian record and claimed fourth in the race with a time of one minute and 21.79 seconds.
That record in the final came after the Saskatoon swimmer broke the record earlier on Day 10 in her event heat, which she won, with a time of 1:22.83.
Women’s sitting volleyball team falls to China, will play for bronze
Melfort’s Julie Kozun and the Canadian women’s sitting volleyball team will play for Paralympic bronze after losing in three straight sets 25-18, 25-20 and 25-15 to China in the semifinals on Day 10.
In the semifinal, Canada will face Brazil, who they lost to 3-2 in the preliminary round. That game is scheduled for Day 11 of the Games.
Frotten competes in final event
The Canadian 4×100-metre universal relay team, including wheelchair racer Jessica Frotten, finished third in their heat with a time of 49.38 seconds and did not advance to the event’s final. The time was a personal best for the team.
Men’s wheelchair basketball team finishes eighth at Games
A 68-56 loss to Germany in the classification playoff left the Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball team with an eighth-place finish at the Tokyo Paralympics, an improvement on their 11th-place performance in Rio.
Regina’s Nik Goncin, who represented Canada in Rio, had eight points and 14 rebounds in the game, while fellow Regina teammate Garrett Ostepchuk, who made his Paralympic debut in Tokyo, had two points and one rebound.
Read more at cheeronsask.ca.
Frotten finishes eighth in 400-metre
With a time of one minute and 1.16 seconds, wheelchair racer Jessica Frotten finished eighth in the women’s T53 400-metre race on Day 9 of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
The Regina resident qualified for the final with a race of 59.98 seconds in her heat.
Shaw finishes Paralympics with road race
It was a rainy day in Tokyo as Para cyclist Keely Shaw of Midale competed in her final Paralympic event, the women’s C4-5 road race, finishing 13th.
A race time was not available.
Read more at cheeronsask.ca.
Women’s sitting volleyball team advances to semifinals
Melfort’s Julie Kozun and the rest of the Canadian women’s sitting volleyball team are bound for the semifinals after defeating Japan in three straight sets (25-19, 25-15 and 25-20) in their final preliminary game on Day 8 of the Paralympics.
In the semifinals, Canada will face China, who went 3-0 and didn’t lose a set in preliminary play. That game is scheduled for Day 10.
Men’s wheelchair basketball loses in quarter-final
The Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball team, including Regina’s Nik Goncin and Garrett Ostepchuk, will play for seventh place after losing 66-52 to Great Britain on Day 8 at the Paralympics.
Canada will now face Germany in 7/8 classification playoff on Day 10.
Read more at cheeronsask.ca.
Shaw finishes fourth in time trial
Midale Para cyclist Keely Shaw looked to claim her second medal of the Paralympics on Day 7 as she competed in the road cycling time trial.
Shaw clocked a time of 42 minutes and 11.09 seconds in the event, which unfortunately put her just under a minute behind the third-place finisher and off the podium.
Newkirk back in the pool for Canada
Saskatoon Para swimmer Shelby Newkirk was back in the water on Day 7 of the Games after first competing on the opening day.
This time around, Newkirk competed in the women’s S7 100-metre freestyle, finishing her heat in a time of one minutes and 19.06 seconds. The time was not fast enough for her to advance to the event final.
Read more at cheeronsask.ca.
Men’s wheelchair basketball defeats Colombia, secures quarter-final sport
The Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball team wrapped up round robin play on Day 6 of the Paralympics, defeating Colombia 63-52 to give them their second win of the tournament as well as spot in the quarterfinals.
With their 2-3 record, the Canadian team —which also includes Regina’s Garrett Ostepchuk— will face Great Britain in the quarter-finals, who finished their round robin with a 4-1 record. The game will take place on Day 8 of the Games.
Ens swims to personal best time in final event
Competing in her final event at the Tokyo Paralympics, Meadow Lake Para swimmer Nikita Ens added another personal best to her tally, completing the S3 women’s 100-metre freestyle in a time of two minutes and 32.56 seconds.
Unfortunately, the time didn’t qualify Ens for the event’s final.
At the Games, Ens also competed in the SM4 150-m individual medley, setting a Canadian record along with a personal best, as well as the S3 50-m backstroke, where she claimed another personal best.
Frotten competes in second event at Games
Regina wheelchair racer Jessica Frotten competed in her second event at the Paralympics on Day 6, the women’s T54 1500-metre race.
Frotten finished the race in a time of three minutes and 52.23 seconds, which wasn’t fast enough for her to advance to the event’s final.
Frotten still has two events left on her Games’ schedule, the T53 400-m race on Day 9 and the 4×100-m relay on Day 10.
Read more at cheeronsask.ca.
Men’s wheelchair basketball team picks up first win at Games
With a 74-64 victory against the Republic of Korea, the Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball team, including Regina’s Nik Goncin and Garrett Ostepchuk, secured their first win of the Tokyo Paralympics.
Patrick Anderson led Canada —who are now 1-3— with 29 points, followed by Goncin with 23.
Canada defeats Italy in women’s sitting volleyball
The Canadian women’s sitting volleyball improved their record to 1-1 at the Paralympic Games on Day 5 after defeating Italy 3-1.
Melfort’s Julie Kozun had nine points in the game.
Frotten makes Paralympic debut on track
Regina wheelchair racer Jessica Frotten made her Paralympic debut on Day 5, competing in the women’s T53 800-metre race.
Frotten finished the race with a time of 1:56.79, not fast enough to qualify for the event’s final.
Ens sets new personal best on Day 5
Para swimmer Nikita Ens set a personal-best time in the women’s S3 50-metre backstroke on Day 5, finishing her heat with a time of 1:10.82.
Unfortunately, the time didn’t qualify her for the event’s final.
Read more at cheeronsask.ca.
Ens sets Canadian record in Paralympic debut
It was a record-breaking performance for Nikita Ens on Day 4 of the Paralympics as the Meadow Lake Para swimmer finished the women’s SM3 150-metre individual medley in a time of 4:34.01 seconds, setting a new Canadian record.
Unfortunately, the time wasn’t fast enough to qualify Ens for the event’s final and she did not advance.
Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball loses to Japan
Another narrow defeat dropped the Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball team, including Regina’s Nik Goncin and Garrett Ostepchuk, to 0-3 at the Paralympics after they lost 62-56 to Japan on Day 4.
Canada led 30-19 at the halfway point of the game, but the Japanese team launched a comeback in the final two quarters to close the gap to 44-38 at the end of the third and then outscored Canada 24-12 in the fourth to claim the victory.
Goncin tallied 20 points in the game.
Read more at cheeronsask.ca.
Canadian women’s sitting volleyball team lose opener 3-2
Melfort attacker Julie Kozun and the Canadian women’s sitting volleyball team got their first action of the Paralympic Games on Day 3 and unfortunately it ended in a 3-2 loss to Brazil.
Canada won the first set 25-21, but Brazil came back to win the next two sets 26-24 and 25-20 to take a 2-1 lead. The two teams battled it out it out in the fourth set with Canada coming out on top 29-27 to force the fifth and final set which Brazil won 17-15.
Up next, Canada will take on Italy on Day 4.
Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball team drops close game in OT
A hard fought, back-and-forth battle ended in favour of Turkey as they defeated the Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball team 77-73 in overtime on Day 3 in Tokyo.
Regina’s Nik Goncin led Canadian scoring with a triple-double game, earning 33 points —12 of which came on three pointers— 15 rebounds and 11 assists. Garrett Ostepchuk, also from Regina, added two points to Canada’s tally.
Canada, now 0-2, will look to pick up their first win of the Paralympics against Japan on Day 4.
Read more at cheeronsask.ca.
Canadian men’s wheelchair basketball team suffers opening game loss
It was a tough start to the Paralympic Games for the men’s wheelchair basketball team as they were defeated by Spain 78-41 on Day 2.
Regina’s Nik Goncin led the red and white in scoring with 15 points, while fellow Regina teammate Garrett Ostepchuk picked up three points.
Next up for Canada is a game against Turkey on Day 3.
Rousell eliminated in epee preliminary round
Competition at the Paralympic Games came to an end for Asquith wheelchair fencer Ryan Rousell on Day 2 after he failed to advance out of the preliminary round in the men’s Category A epee event.
Rousell had a couple of close duels but was ultimately defeated in all six of his duels, losing 5-1 to Italy’s Emanuele Lambertini, 5-2 to Germany’s Maurice Schmidt, 5-4 to Russian Paralympic Committee’s Maxim Shaburov, 5-0 to Turkey’s Hakan Akkaya, 5-1 to Iraq’s Zainulabdeen Al-Madhkhoori and 5-4 to China’s Jianquan Tian.
Read more at cheeronsask.ca.
Shaw earns Canada’s first medal at the Tokyo Paralympics
With a time of 3:48.342 seconds, Midale’s Keely Shaw set a personal best and defeated Australia’s Meg Lemon to capture bronze in the track Para cycling women’s C4 3,000-metre individual pursuit on Day 1 of the Tokyo Paralympic Games. The bronze is Canada’s first medal of the Games and first for Shaw who is making her Paralympic debut.
In the qualifying round, Shaw placed third with a time of 3:49.032.
Para swimmer Newkirk sets new Canadian record
Making her Paralympic debut, Saskatoon Para swimmer Shelby Newkirk set a new Canadian record and personal best with a time of 35.50 seconds in the women’s S6 50-metre freestyle event heats.
The time placed Newkirk ninth overall between the heats —0.3 seconds out of eighth— and only the Top 8 advanced to the final.
Rousell has tough opening day
It was a rough start to his first Paralympics for Asquith wheelchair fencer Ryan Rousell.
Competing in the men’s Category A sabre event, Rousell was defeated in all his preliminary round duels, losing 5-4 to Ukraine’s Andrii Demchuk, 5-0 to Italy’s Edoardo Giordan, 5-3 to China’s Hao Li and 5-3 to Germany’s Maurice Schmidt.
He did not advance to the quarter-finals.
Read more at cheeronsask.ca.