Humboldt bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann looks to LA 2028 after Paralympic debut in rowing – MASHAHER

The Paralympic learning curve was steep, but worth it for Jacob Wassermann.

Less than two years after taking up the sport of Para rowing and six years after he survived a bus crash that killed members of the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team, Wassermann raced the B final of men’s PR1 single sculls in Paris.

The 24-year-old from Humboldt, Sask., was the youngest competitor in the international field and finished 10th overall.

Wassermann says he became a Paralympian sooner than expected and that the Los Angeles Paralympic Games in 2028 had been his goal.

The athlete also says he learned a lot watching more experienced rowers that he can use as he prepares for L.A.

Wassermann was paralyzed from the waist down in the bus crash that killed 16 members of the Broncos. He tried adaptive water skiing and Para hockey before giving Para rowing a try.

“This is my second summer on the water only. It’s been a quick process and not something that we expected,” Wassermann said after Tuesday’s training session. “Six months ago, even when I was in Rio and got the qualification [at the Americas Continental Qualification Regatta] — we went to Rio just to get more experience.

“It’s been a whirlwind, but it’s been a lot of fun.”

Wassermann finished fourth in the four-man B final, clocking 11 minutes 58.90 seconds in the 2,000-metre race at Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium.

Great Britain’s Benjamin Pritchard captured gold with a time of 9:03.84 in the A final, while Ukraine’s Roman Polianskyi (9:14.47) and Australia’s Erik Horrie (9:23.37) took silver and bronze.

Rivard posts fastest qualifying time in 100m freestyle

Canadian Para swimmer Aurélie Rivard, who won bronze in the S10 50m freestyle on Day 1, advanced to the 100m freestyle final with the fastest qualifying time on Sunday at Paris La Défense Arena.

The Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., native touched the wall in 1:00.41 to win her qualifying heat. The eight fastest swimmers out of the field of 15 in two heats moved on.

Edmonton’s Arianna Hunsicker failed to advance, placing seventh in the first heat with a time of 1:03.18.

Rivard, 28, set the event world record while capturing gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021 (58.14). She also took home the world title last summer in Manchester, England.

Lakatos, Smeenk advance to medal races

Canadian wheelchair racers Brent Lakatos and Austin Smeenk both advanced to the final in their respective during heats on Sunday at Stade de France. 

Lakatos, an 11-time Paralympic medallist, will look to win his third career Paralympic medal in the men’s 400m T53 event after posting a season-best time.

Lakatos, a 44-year-old from Dorval, Que., won silver medals in the distance in Tokyo and the 2012 London Paralympics.

Smeenk also registered the fourth-fastest qualifying time in the men’s T34 100m, winning his Round 1 heat in 15.38.

The 27-year-old Oakville, Ont., native will race in the final on Monday at 5:24 a.m. ET.

Smeenk won silver in the event at the World Para Athletics Championships last July.

Cyclist Sametz withdraws from road races with injury

Para cyclist Mike Sametz of Calgary has withdrawn from the Paralympic Games in Paris because of injury.

The 28-year-old crashed in training for road races. Sametz fractured his right hip and will require surgery, the medal-winning cyclist said in a joint statement released by the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Cycling Canada.

Sametz was a bronze medallist in the time trial in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and also in last year’s Parapan Am Games in Santiago, Chile.

He didn’t race in Tokyo’s Paralympics three years ago because of injury.

His six teammates will compete in road races starting Wednesday.

The team earned three bronze medals in track cycling in Paris.