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PM congratulates Canadian athletes on Paralympic medals
“These remarkable Canadian athletes have achieved the apex in their respective sports: a position on the podium at the Paralympic Games,” said the Prime Minister. “The whole country applauds this tremendous achievement and revels in their success.”
Robbi Weldon, of Thunder Bay, Ontario is a two time Paralympian, having competed in the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver in Para-Nordic skiing. This is her first Paralympic medal. In 2010, Ms. Weldon paired up with Olympic cyclist Lyne Bessette, who had retired from competitive cycling but returned to pilot Ms. Weldon. In their first race together, the pair won a silver medal at the 2010 Baie-Comeau World Cup. In 2011, the pair won two World Cup gold medals, a World Championship gold as well as the overall World Cup title. The duo also won four gold medals at the 2011 Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Lyne Bessette, of Knowlton, Quebec is the pilot for Robbi Weldon. Ms. Bessette was a member of the Canadian Olympic cycling team in both 2000 and 2004. Ms. Bessette had retired from competitive cycling when she was asked to pilot cyclist Robbi Weldon in 2010.
The Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team has competed in 12 Paralympic Games since the 1968 Games in Tel Aviv. This is their fourth Paralympic medal, having previously won gold medals in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004 and a silver medal in Beijing in 2008. All the members this year’s London team competed together at the 2011 Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, taking home a bronze medal. Members of the 2012 London Team are: Patrick Anderson, Abdi Dini, David Durepos, David Eng, Bo Hedges, Chad Jassman, Joey Johnson, Adam Lancia, Tyler Miller, Richard Peter, Yvon Rouillard, Brandon Wagner.
Amber Thomas, of Drayton Valley, Alberta, is a two-time Paralympian – having competed in the 2008 Games in Beijing. This is her second Paralympic medal of these London Games. Ms. Thomas broke the Canadian record in the 400-metre freestyle at the 2012 Paralympic swim trials. At the Para Pan Pacific Championships in Edmonton in 2011, Ms. Tomas won five gold and two silver medals.
The 2012 Summer Paralympic Games are being held from August 29 to September 9 in London, United Kingdom. Canada is being represented by more than 145 athletes who are competing in 15 sports. More than 4,000 athletes from 125 countries are participating in the largest ever Paralympic Games.
