Canadian wheelchair racer Austin Smeenk claims Paralympic bronze in 100 metres

Canadian Press

Published Sep 02, 2024 • < 1 minute read

Gold medalist Chaiwat Rattana of Team Thailand (centre), Silver medalist Walid Ktila of Team Tunisia (right) and Bronze medalist Austin Smeenk of Team Canada (left) pose for a photo after the Men's 100m T34 Final on day five of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at Stade de France on Sept. 2, 2024 in Paris. Photo by Michael Steele /Getty Images

PARIS — Canadian wheelchair racer Austin Smeenk has won a bronze medal at the Paralympic Games in Paris.

The 27-year-old from Oakville, Ont., was third in the men’s 100 metres for the first Paralympic medal of his career.

Smeenk earned Canada’s second medal at the track. Wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos was a silver medallist in the men’s 400 metres.

Smeenk is the world-record holder in the 800 metres.

He will race the heat in the event Friday. The final is Saturday.

Smeenk was born with a hereditary form of paraplegia that causes stiffness in the lower limbs.

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