Lakatos, Rivard earn gold in Paris
Canada earned three medals, with two golds courtesy of two of its biggest names at the Paralympic Games on Day 8.
Wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos earned gold in the men's T53 800 metres on the track on Thursday, while Aurelie Rivard picked up gold in the women's S10 400-metre freestyle in the pool. Swimmer Tess Routliffe added bronze in the women's SB7 100-metre breaststroke.
For the 44-year-old Lakatos, it was career medal No. 13 and his first Paralympic gold since the 2016 Games when he won the 100. The Dorval, Que., native won four silvers at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.
“It's a really great feeling,” said Lakatos, who is competing in his fifth Paralympics.
For the 28-year-old Rivard, it was also career medal No. 13 and her third in Paris. Rivard also earned bronze in the 50 freestlye and silver in the 100 freestyle.
The St-jean-sur-richelieu, Que., native became the first Canadian swimmer to win a gold medal in the same event in three consecutive Paralympic Games since Stephanie Dixon won the S9 100 backstroke in 2000, 2004, and 2008.
In women's sitting volleyball, Canada will play Brazil for bronze on Saturday. The Canadians fell 3-0 to China on Thursday in the semifinals.
Canada's men's wheelchair basketball squad will play Germany for bronze on Saturday. The Canadians fell 80-43 to the United States in the semifinals on Thursday.
Canada fell 6-1 to Thailand in the bronze-medal game in mixed pairs BC4 boccia action.
In judo action, Priscilla Gagne of Sarnia, Ont., lost her bronze-medal match against Argentina's Paula Karina Gomez.
CONFLICTED COACH FIRED
Swimming Australia has fired coach Michael Palfrey over comments made at the Paris Olympics where he said he hoped a South Korean athlete would beat Australian swimmers.
Palfrey told South Korean television he hoped South Korea's Kim Woomin would win the men's 400-meter freestyle in Paris, an event that featured Australians Sam Short and Elijah Winnington.
“I really hope he can win, but ultimately I really hope he swims well,” Palfrey said in Paris during the Games. He added, “Go Korea.”
Swimming Australia said in a statement Friday that it had terminated Palfrey “due to a breach of his employment agreement.”
It added Palfrey brought “himself into disrepute and causing serious damage to his and Swimming Australia's reputation, and adversely affecting Swimming Australia's interests.”
FAVOURITE AT THE FORT
Midnight Mascot has been installed as the early 5-2 favourite for the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes.
The second jewel of the OLG Triple Crown will be run Tuesday at Fort Erie Racetrack. Midnight Mascot received the No. 5 post in the race draw Thursday.
Midnight Mascot is trained by Mark Casse and will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura.
Midnight Mascot will headline the 10-horse field, one that will feature five horses that ran in the King's Plate on Aug. 23 at Woodbine Racetrack. Filly Caitlinhergrtness, the Plate winner trained by Kevin Attard, won't be running at Fort Erie.
Midnight Mascot finished third in the Plate.
900 GOALS FOR RONALDO
With his 900th career goal, Cristiano Ronaldo got the best of Luka Modric in the duel of veterans in the Nations League on Thursday.
The 39-year-old Ronaldo became the first man to reach the 900-goal milestone in official matches for club and country by scoring in Portugal's 2-1 win over Modric's Croatia.
“It means a lot,” Ronaldo said. “It was a milestone I wanted to reach for a long time. I knew I would reach this number, because as I continue to play, it would happen naturally.”
Also, San Marino won a competitive game for the first time by beating Liechtenstein. San Marino, a tiny nation surrounded by Italy, is No. 210 — last — in FIFA'S world rankings. Liechtenstein is at No. 199.