Cody Fournie, a former national wheelchair rugby player, turned to track and found success. At 35 years old, he won a gold medal for Canada in the men’s T51 200 metres at the Paralympic Games in Paris, securing the country’s second gold after Nicholas Bennett’s swimming victory.
Fournie shared that during COVID, he was uncertain about his future in rugby. Then, he met someone who introduced him to coach Geoff Harris, and from there, things took off in a new direction.
Nicholas Bennett was emotional during the playing of O Canada at the Paralympic Games on Monday. The 20-year-old swimmer from Parksville, B.C., won Canada’s first gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris by winning the 100-metre breaststroke.
After the medal ceremony at La Defense Arena, Bennett said it was a mix of emotions—joy at competing against the world’s best and becoming the best, and relief that he had finally proven himself as one of the top athletes. He is the first Canadian male swimmer to win Paralympic gold since Benoit Huot did in 2012 in London.
Describing his medal, Bennett said, “It’s heavy. It’s a beautiful piece of history to carry with me.”
