Canadian athletes won big on top of the podium in the second leg of the Paratriathlon World Series event in Montreal on Friday.
from Calgary Stephen Daniel and New Brunswick native kamylle frenette both crossed the finish line first in their men’s and women’s PTS5 races.
The grueling triathlon event, part of the Paralympic World Triathlon Series brings together the best paratriathletes in the world, all converging on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit of Île Notre-Dame.
80 top-level para-athletes, both male and female, from more than 20 countries competed in the sports showcase.
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Athletes participated in a 750-meter swim leg in the Olympic Basin, followed by a 22.5-kilometre bike course, ending with a 5-kilometre run.
This year’s Montreal Paralympic Series is Part 2 of the World Series, which follows Yokohama, Japan and precedes Swansea, UK.
The paratriathletes will then be ready for the world championships in Abu Dhabi in November.
Also, many athletes have their sights set on the grand prize: competing at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
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Daniel crossed the finish line in first place for the PTS5 permanent class event in just under an hour.
“I think it’s the best race I’ve done in a long time. That was the best swim I’ve had and the bike was solid. The race needs some work but very happy.
“I think it’s as good as it could have been today.”
The four-time world champion made history at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games when he became the first Canadian to win a silver medal in paratriathlon (PTS5), the first year the sport was included in the Paralympic Games.
Most recently, at the Tokyo Games, Daniel finished with the bronze medal in the triathlon event.
Born with bilateral radial club hands, Daniel’s right arm is significantly shorter than his left arm.
The 24-year-old has been dominant in his class since Rio, winning three consecutive world titles from 2017 to 2019.
Frenette finished first in the PTS5 category on Friday.
The 25-year-old made her international debut with Team Canada in 2018.
Frenette missed out on the podium at the Tokyo Paralympics and finished fourth in the PTS5 event.
Frenette said it was a pleasure to compete so close to home and in front of friends and family again.
“Having friends and family here is amazing,” Frenette said.
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