Canadian Para swimmer Katarina Roxon advanced to the women’s 100-metre breaststroke SB8 final on Friday at the Paris Paralympics, becoming the first woman to compete in the sport at five Games.
The Kippens, N.L., native finished third in the first of two qualifying heats, touching the wall in one minute 26.70 seconds for the sixth-fastest time among the eight who qualified at La Defense Arena.
The 31-year-old will race for a spot on the podium at 2:21 p.m. ET, with live coverage available on CBC Gem, the Paris 2024 website and the Paris 2024 mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Roxon, who was born missing her left arm below the elbow, won Paralympic gold in the same event gold at Rio 2016 and helped Canada claim bronze in the women’s 4x100m relay three years ago in Tokyo.
She served as one of Canada’s flag-bearers in the opening ceremony alongside wheelchair basketball legend Pat Anderson.
Humboldt’s Wassermann makes debut
Humboldt bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann made his Paralympic debut in the men’s PR1 single sculls rowing event, less than two years into competing in the sport.
The 24-year-old Humboldt, Sask., native didn’t directly qualify for the final, finishing last in his heat, but he will have another chance to advance in Saturday’s repechage round.
“It’s just the beginning”<br><br>🇨🇦 Jacob Wassermann is fiercely competitive and he told me just now this is only firing him up for future races.<br><br>His first Paralympic rowing race complete. And more to come from the 24-year-old from Humboldt, Saskatchewan. <a href=”https://t.co/FSD0ZtnkU3″>pic.twitter.com/FSD0ZtnkU3</a>
—@Devin_Heroux
Wassermann clocked a time of 11:22.35 in the 2,000m race at Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium, drawing cheers and applause as he crossed the finish. He will compete in the first of two repechage races on Saturday at 4:10 a.m. ET, with the fastest two rowers in each advancing to the Sunday’s final.
The 24-year-old is one of 13 survivors of the 2018 tragedy, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
WATCH | Wassermann finds freedom on the water:
Jacob Wassermann has turned to rowing and is on path to compete at the Paralympics in Paris this summer. Devin Heroux spoke to him about his newfound love of being on the water and how he keeps in touch with his former Humboldt Broncos teammates.
Source Agencies
