Canadian wheelchair racer Austin Smeenk is a Paralympic Games gold medallist.
The 27-year-old from Oakville, Ont., won in the men’s T34 800 metres, clocking a time of one minute 39.27 seconds after leading from start to finish at Stade de France.
Smeenk collected his second medal after taking bronze in the 100m in Paris.
He set world records in both the 400 (48.06) and 800 (1:35.59) earlier this year.
GOLD FOR CANADA 🇨🇦 <br><br>AUSTIN SMEENK IS A PARALYMPIC CHAMPION<br><br>Austin Smeenk wins his second medal at Paris 2024. He speeds to gold in the men’s 800m T34. <br><br>Canada now has 24 medals at the Games.<br><br> <a href=”https://t.co/ndgocNdVGA”>pic.twitter.com/ndgocNdVGA</a>
—@Devin_Heroux
Smeenk was born with spastic paraplegia, which is a hereditary disease causing progressive stiffness and contraction in the lower limbs.
He captured Canada’s eighth medal and fifth gold in Para track and field in Paris.
Canada now has 24 medals at these Games — nine gold, seven silver, eight bronze.
Thailand’s Chaiwat Rattana (1:39.48) and Australia’s Rheed McCracken (1:40.13) took silver and bronze.
More to come.
