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Paralympic reflections after a record medal count for Canada

Mar 21, 2018 | 10:49 PM

NANAIMO — The Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang were record setting for Canada.

Our country won 28 medals at the games, smashing the record of 19 at the Vancouver Paralympics in 2010.

Parksville/Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell is a six time gold medal winner at the games and called the results a fantastic showing for all Canadian athletes.

 

“We surpassed what we had expected and many of our younger up and coming athletes at their first time Paralympics surpassed their own expectations as well,” said Stilwell. 

More awareness of para sports, and more opportunities for athletes are giving Canadian athletes higher profile on the world stage. 

Stilwell competed at five Paralympics from 2000-2016 and has gotten to know several people involved with the Canadian team.

She says even though her competition has been at the Summer Games, she’s crossed paths with many of the individuals who represented Canada.

That includes chef de mission Todd Nicholson and skier Brian McKeever.

McKeever himself was one of the compelling stories from Pyeongchang. 

 

He became our country’s most decorated paralympian and Stilwell calls him a true athlete who will push himself farther than he ever thought he could.

“He’s done Canada so proud over the years,” explained Stilwell. “He’s a dedicated athlete who always strives for the very best.” 

McKeever won three gold medals to bring his career totals to 17 overall and 13 golds.

One of the events that gets loads of attention is this country is para ice hockey, even though most fans know the game as sledge hockey.

Team Canada had a tremendous run going 4-1 and finishing with a silver medal.

The BC representatives were James Gemmell from Quesnel, who at age 37 was the oldest player on the team, and assistant coach Luke Pierce from Merritt.

Pierce called the experience in Pyeongchang amazing even though he and the team are still emotional after losing the gold medal game 2-1 to the USA in overtime.

 

“I can’t thank Hockey Canada and the staff enough for having me involved.  It’s a phenomenal life experience and something I think that’s made me certainly a better coach but also a better person in general,” said Pierce.

There were many big milestones shared by the team and the coaches and Pierce says there are many things he’ll take away from the experience.

But some of the small moments are the most meaningful.

Many Canadians were glued to their television watching the Canadian Women play the USA for gold at the Olympic Games, and the emotion of the rival really showed.

Pierce says the Canada/USA rivalry in para ice hockey is similar.

“We played at the World Sledge Challenge, then we played each other again in a ‘Border Series’ in Buffalo and Ontario,” stated Pierce. “It’s a whole other other level, each one of those games is almost like a Super Bowl type of feel because you don’t play as much in this sport and when you do each game has such huge significance.”

 

Whether it’s para ice hockey, skiing, or any other sport the athletes returning home to Canada are role models for the next generation of athletes.

Michelle Stilwell thinks back to her career and says that being a role model isn’t something that fades in the days after the games are over – it has a lasting effect.

Recently she was in Prince George for a pre-competition event for the Para-Nordic Championships in 2019 and brought one of her gold medals to show to some local kids.

“The inspiration it brings and the smiles, you can just see the ideas popping up in their heads – and the hope and the possibilities,” explained Stilwell.

The athletes who went to Pyeongchang have set the bar for Canada, the many standout performances will raise expectations that much more for the Summer Paralympics in 2020 in Tokyo, and the next Winter Games in Beijing in 2022.
 

Full interview with Michelle Stilwell:

 

Full Interview with Luke Pierce (Parts 1 & 2)

 

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77