Who won Men’s Wheelchair Paralympic Gold Medal in race?
Cody Fournie made a stunning debut at the Paralympic Games, capturing gold in his first-ever Paralympic race. For Fournie, this victory represents a dream realized through years of hard work and dedication.
Reflecting on his achievement, Fournie expressed his satisfaction: “It’s not a bad start at all. It’s been a lot of hard work. My coach and I have put in a lot of effort and time.”
Wheelchair Paralympic 200 Meter race
The 200-meter race, which has been particularly challenging for him, was a focal point of his training. “I executed [the race] perfectly,” he noted with pride.
In a close finish, silver went to Toni Piispanen from Finland with a time of 38.55 seconds, while Peter Genyn from Belgium claimed bronze with a time of 38.65 seconds.
Although Fournie received a yellow card for what was deemed “unsporting or improper conduct,” his victory was upheld after a review.
Earlier this year, Fournie earned a silver medal in the 100 meters at the World Para Athletics Championship in Kobe, Japan.
He will be competing in the 100 meters again on Friday at 2:56 p.m. ET, with live coverage available on CBC Gem, the Paris 2024 website, and the Paris 2024 mobile app.
Fournie’s excitement was palpable as he raced in front of a packed Stade de France. “I’ve never raced in front of so many people before,” he said. “My family is back home watching online. It was great to hear the cheer of the crowd.”
A quadriplegic since he was 11, Fournie began his athletic career in wheelchair rugby before transitioning to track racing a decade later.
“The transition from rugby to racing helped because I was putting so much time and effort into training,” he explained.
One of the biggest challenges was adjusting to the racing chair. Without stomach muscles, Fournie had to use his head to steer, a skill that took time to master.
Fournie’s gold medal is Canada’s third in track and field at these Games, joining Brent Lakatos’ silver and Austin Smeenk’s bronze.
His remarkable achievement underscores the dedication and skill required to excel at the highest level of Paralympic competition.
Canadian Austin Smeenk also won the Men’s Paralympic Wheelchair race for 100m.
