All Canadian Athletes Win Medals in Impressive Performance
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, July 22 /CNW/ - This past week Canadian Blind
Sports' Team Canada won 9 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze for an impressive 23
medals at the 2009 International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Pan American
Games and IBSA World Youth and Student Championships. All thirty-three
Canadian athletes who are blind or visually impaired won medals as they
competed in Athletics, Goalball and Judo at the events which ran between July
15th and 19th in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
"That's a tremendous accomplishment for Team Canada," said Chef de
Mission Tony Badger, "I'm fairly certain this is the first time all the
Canadian athletes who are blind or visually impaired won medals at a
multi-sport games."
Athletics
Leading the medal count were Athletic Canada's contingent of nine
athletes, with five guide runners, who combined to win 9 gold, 4 silver and 2
bronze for a total of 15 medals out of a possible 16. Noella Klawitter won
gold medals in all her events at her first international competition in the B2
100m, as well as the 400m and 800m with guide Evan Porter. Courtney Knight,
the other female athlete on the team, also won gold in all of her events,
finishing first in both the B3 shot put and discus.
Head Coach Bruce Pirnie said "I'm extremely pleased as there were
outstanding performances across the board, and we competed very well in some
of the more competitive classes." He attributed the Team's success "due to the
overall attitude and interaction between the vets and the first year
athletes."
The veterans on the Team indeed delivered solid performances beginning
with a 1st place finish in the 4 X 400 metre exhibition relay. Paralympians
Jason Dunkerley, guided by Greg Daily, John Dunkerley, guided by Sean Young,
Stuart McGregor, and Dustin Walsh, guided by Steven Walters, combined for the
impressive time of 3:42.40 min in the 4 X 400m. Besides their relay win the
four athletes, with their guides, won an additional 5 medals.
When asked to single out a specific athlete Coach Pirnie reiterated how
pleased he was with the entire team but mentioned that "Richard Carr making
his first international team and his performance capped a terrific comeback,
because it wasn't easy." Carr missed all of last season with a broken femur
and rebounded to win bronze in the B1 100m with a seasonal best of 12.57
seconds and also won gold with a High Jump of 1.60 m that surpassed the world
record for the B1 class.
The two athletics athletes competing in the IBSA World Youth and Student
Games demonstrated that the team has some exceptional young talent as well.
Courtney Johnson, guided by Marqus Daniels won the silver medal in the B2 100m
Intermediate with a seasonal best of 12.06 secs, while Brandon King, guided by
Evan Porter won the bronze medal in the B2 Intermediate 200m, and the silver
medal in the B2 Intermediate 400m while guided by Marqus Daniels.
The athletes on the Team are very quick to point out the importance of
their guide runners in their success, and Pirnie believes at this meet they
"proved they have as good a group of guide runners as there is," and added "we
knew the veterans are good, but the young guys really stepped up," in
reference to Evan Porter and Marqus Daniels.
GOALBALL
Canadian Blind Sports Goalball Teams won 4 out of a possible 4 medals.
While the teams were all competing at the games with different objectives,
their fantastic efforts and solid results demonstrated significant improvement
in the depth of the Canadian Goalball program and the junior program in
particular.
The Canadian Blind Sports Women's Goalball Team was competing in the IBSA
Pan American Games with the primary focus on beating Brazil to qualify for the
2010 IBSA Goalball World Championships in Sheffield, England. They
accomplished their task in a decisive victory, and will be traveling to
England next June looking to defend their 2006 World Champion Title. The
Canadian Women played a double-round-robin against the USA and Brazil, split
the 2 game set with the 2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist USA while both beating
and tying Brazil. In the semi-final they showed their ability to play a great
game when it was all on the line as Amy Kneebone, Annette Lisabeth and Nancy
Morin shut down the Brazilians, while each scored a goal to win 3 - 0 to
qualify for the World Championships. They won the silver medal after being
edged out 2 - 1 in a tight defensive game in the final against USA, despite
electing to rotate all five of their players throughout the game.
The Canadian Blind Sports Men's Goalball Team qualified for the 2010 IBSA
Goalball World Championships with their 5th place performance in Beijing, so
the National Team Coaching Staff elected to send a developmental team of four
younger players to the IBSA Pan American Games. The staff wanted to give as
much international playing time as possible to develop both the athletes, and
the program. The men had the tough task of competing against the best teams
the other nations had to offer, and yet still came out with the bronze medal.
"I'm pleased," said Head Coach Danny Snow, "a lot of objectives were
accomplished at this tournament, some weren't, but they gained a lot of
experience." By leaving two of the starting three National Team players at
home the coaching staff was able to really analyze how the next wave of
Canadian Goalball athletes handled the task of competing at the international
level. Danny Snow added "they've each improved in areas, but more importantly
I learned a lot more about where they are, and what they need to get to that
next level."
Danny also pointed to the incredible success the Canadian Blind Sports
Junior Men's Goalball Team had at the tournament as another reason the Men's
National Team Pool is looking stronger than ever. The junior men won 6 games
with only 2 losses throughout the tournament and won the silver medal in a
deep field that had very talented teams from Germany, Russia and the USA among
others. Both losses were to the US, and were each back and forth games that
saw the lead switch several times, while the Canadians ultimately lost by a
single goal on a penalty late in the gold medal game.
Coach Darren Hamilton said the team had a "really good tournament, it was
amazing. They finished higher than any Canadian Junior Goalball Team in
history and really earned that medal." Coach Trent Farebrother offered a
similar analysis "they really played their hearts out and gave it their all,
I'm proud of all of them," he said.
Finally the Canadian Blind Sports Junior Women's Team had a tough
tournament facing strong teams from the US, Germany and Russia, but persevered
and won the bronze medal game. All six players received significant playing
time throughout the event, and all had great individual moments and
accomplishments, but in the end the combination of Angell Lu-Lebel, Tiana
Knight, and Cassie Orgeles was able to put together a consistent game-long
effort and beat the US in overtime by a score of 2 -1.
"They knew what was at stake," said Head Coach Carol Braul describing the
bronze medal game, "we knew we just needed that win, and they did it." Halfway
through sudden-death overtime, Cassie Orgeles threw a bouncing ball with a
little extra power that popped up over the American winger to send the
Canadian crowd into a frenzy and win the Bronze medal.
"The Goalball Teams did well," said Assistant Chef de Mission Mike
Lonergan, "it was fantastic to see that the women will be joining the men's
team at the World Championships, and what an improvement in the junior teams."
Canadian Blind Sports recognizes our Provincial Member Association's focus on
Junior Goalball development over the last several years, and applaud our
members for preparing their athletes for this tremendous accomplishment.
JUDO
Judo Canada's team won more medals than it had athletes which is always a
sure sign of success. Justin Karn won the bronze medal in the minus 60 kg,
Alexander Radoman won the Bronze in the minus 90 kg, while Tim Rees won dual
silver in both the minus 100kg and open-weight divisions, losing to the same
opponent in the finals of each.
"I am pretty pleased with this (performance)," said Head Coach Tom
Thomson, "they are all relatively new, except Justin, but he has been away
(from the sport) for three years, and is a different player now." According to
Thompson, Karn demonstrated his improvement by executing a fairly standard
uchi mata (inner thigh) throw, but from a fairly unusual position to secure
the win. In Tim Rees's case he used a spectacular ippon seoi nage (one arm
shoulder throw) that Thomson called "outstanding," to flip his semi-final
opponent onto the mat and secure the silver.
"Alex did a good job (also)," said Thomson "he is a development athlete.
He was the lowest rank (in the entire tournament); he held his own but was
fighting stronger, faster, older players." Thomson described Judo tournaments
as "about relearning skills under different circumstances," and feels that
there is a possibility any of the three athletes could be 2012 Paralympic
hopefuls.
Canadian Blind Sports is extremely pleased with Team Canada's performance
at the events, and congratulates everyone involved. From our athletes, to our
coaches, and Mission Staff, and the excellent manner Team Canada composed
itself both on and off the field of play, it appears that sports for athletes
who are blind or visually impaired are thriving in Canada. Assistant Chef Mike
Lonergan summed up the experience: "at these games, Canada has reasserted
itself as a power in the blind sport world."TEAM CANADA RESULTS
Athletics
IBSA Pan American Games
Richard Carr (Port Elgin, ON) with guide Evan Porter (Ennismore, ON)
B1 100m Bronze 12.57s, High Jump Gold 1.60 m (surpasses world record)
Jason Dunkerley (Ottawa, ON), with guide Greg Daily (St. George, ON)
B1 1500m Gold 4:32.20 min, 4 X 400m exhibition 1st place 3:42.40 min
Jon Dunkerley (Ottawa, ON), with guide Sean Young (Ennismore, ON)
B1 400m Silver 54.97, 4 X 400m exhibition 1st place 3:42.40
Noella Klawitter (Carleton Place, ON) with guide Evan Porter (400m, 800m)
B2 100m Gold 13.83, 400m Gold 1:05.80 min, 800m Gold 2:38.57 min
Courtney Knight, (Burnaby, BC)
B3 Shot Put Gold 11.21m, Discus Gold 32.81m
Stuart McGregor (Ottawa, ON)
B3 400m Silver 54.31 sec, 800m Gold 2:04.76 min , 4 X 400m exhibition 1st
3:42.40
Dustin Walsh (New Westminster, BC), with guide Steven Walters (Surrey,
BC)
B1 400m Gold 5.83 sec, 4 X 400m exhibition 1st 3:42.40
Bruce Pirnie, Head Coach (Winnipeg, MB)
Nathalie Cote, Asst. Coach (Ottawa, ON)
Alix Cote-Tremblay, Physio (Stukely-Sud, QC)
IBSA World Youth and Student Championships
Courtney Johnson (Toronto, ON) with guide Marqus Daniels (Brantford, ON)
B2 100m Intermediate Silver 12.06 sec, Intermediate Long Jump 5th
Brandon King (Brampton, ON), guide Evan Porter 200m, Marqus Daniels 400m
B2 Intermediate 200m Bronze 24.43 sec, Intermediate 400m Silver 58.47 sec
Faye Blackwood, Asst. Coach (Toronto, ON)
Canadian Blind Sports - Goalball
Canadian Blind Sports Pan American Men's Goalball Team - Bronze Medalists
Tyler Burk (Ottawa, On)
Brendan Gaulin (Vancouver, BC)
Bruno Hache (Dorval, QC)
Simon Tremblay (Quebec, QC)
Danny Snow, Head Coach (Calgary, AB)
Robert Lebel, Asst. Coach (Vancouver, BC)
Isabelle Trottier, Physio (Quebec, QC)
Canadian Blind Sports Pan American Women's Goalball Team - Silver
Medalists
Whitney Burk (Ottawa, ON)
Amy Kneebone (Charlottetown, PEI)
Annette Lisabeth (Langton, ON)
Shawn Marsolais (New Westminster, BC)
Nancy Morin (Longueuil, QC)
Janice Dawson, Head Coach (Calgary, AB)
Annie Pouliot, Asst. Coach (Quebec, QC)
Marie-Claire Holland, Physio (Ottawa, ON)
Canadian Blind Sports Jr Men's World Youth and Student Championships
Goalball Team - Silver Medalists
Clement Chou (Vancouver, BC)
Aron Grebreyohannes (Calgary, AB)
Dylan Johnson (Madoc, ON)
Paul McKnight (Calgary, AB)
Aaron Prevost (Brantford, ON)
John Tee (Vancouver, BC)
Darren Hamilton, Co-Coach, (Calgary, AB)
Trent Farebrother, Co-Coach, (Red Deer, AB)
Canadian Blind Sports Jr Women's World Youth and Student Championships
Goalball Team - Bronze Medalists
Ashlie Andrews (Penticton, BC)
Tiana Knight (Calgary, AB)
Stephannie Leach (London, ON)
Angell Lu-Lebel (Vancouver, BC)
Cassie Orgeles (St. Catherines, ON)
Tanya Peterson (Calgary, AB)
Carol Braul, Head Coach (Calgary, AB)
Cherie Lu, Asst. Coach (Vancouver, BC)
Judo Canada - Pan American Games Athletes
Justin Karn, Bronze Medal, - 60 kg, (Kitchener, ON)
Alexander Radoman, Bronze Medal, - 90 kg, (Brantford, ON)
Tim Rees, Silver Medal -100 kg, Silver Medal Open Weight (Waterloo, ON)
Tom Thomson, Coach, (Brantford, ON)Canadian Blind Sports is the recognized national sports organization for
Goalball in Canada and advocates within the sport system on behalf of
Canadians who are blind / visually impaired.
Goalball is a fast-paced, Paralympic sport played by athletes who have a
visual impairment or who are blind. Played three on three, on a volley-ball
size court, players track the ball by sound as they throw and defend
blistering shots upwards of 80 kilometers per hour.
For more information on the Canadian Blind Sports Association and the
Paralympic Sport of Goalball please visit: www.canadianblindsports.ca.
For further information: media inquiries, or to set up interviews please
contact: Team Canada, Media Liaison, Matt Morrow, Canadian Blind Sports,
Participation Director, Communications, (604) 812-6786 mobile, (604) 410-0480
office, matt@canadianblindsports.ca
