Canadian wheelchair racer Austin Smeenk is a Paralympic Games gold medallist.
The 27-year-old from Oakville, Ont., won in the┬аmen’s T34 800 metres,┬аclocking┬аa time of one minute 39.27 seconds┬аafter leading from start to finish at Stade de France.
Smeenk collected his second medal after taking bronze in the 100m┬аin Paris.
He set world records in both the 400 (48.06) and 800 (1:35.59) earlier this year.
GOLD FOR CANADA ЁЯЗиЁЯЗж <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 menтАЩs 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┬атАФ nine gold, seven silver, eight bronze.
Thailand’s Chaiwat Rattana┬а(1:39.48)┬аand Australia’s Rheed McCracken┬а(1:40.13) took silver and bronze.
More to come.
