Canadians race to three medals

Lakatos wins wheelchair 800m, Rivard swims to 400m freestyle gold

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PARIS Canada earned three medals, with two golds courtesy of two of its biggest names at the Paralympic Games on Day 8.

Wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos earned gold in the men’s T53 800 metres on the track on Thursday, while Aurelie Rivard picked up gold in the women’s S10 400-metre freestyle in the pool. Swimmer Tess Routliffe added bronze in the women’s SB7 100-metre breaststroke.

For the 44-year-old Lakatos, it was career medal No. 13 and his first Paralympic gold since the 2016 Games when he won the 100. The Dorval, Que., native won four silvers at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.

“It’s a really great feeling,” said Lakatos, who is competing in his fifth Paralympics. “This has taken a lot of planning. The Canadian support staff have been great.

“We had a great strategy, taking control of the race. We executed the plan and it worked out really well.”

Lakatos now has two medals in Paris, having also taken silver in the 400. But it was a tough road.