What looked like a bounce back for Canada at the Paralympic Games was more of a return to form.

Canada香蕉视频直播檚 10 gold medals in Paris were the most since 19 in Beijing in 2008, and also doubled the output at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

The 29 medals overall matched Rio in 2016 and far surpassed the 21 in Tokyo.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected para sport more than able-bodied sport with international and domestic competition decimated.

Canada香蕉视频直播檚 tight restrictions around the pandemic added an extra layer of challenge for Tokyo hopefuls in addition to the adaptations they made to pursue their sport.

Canadian athletes showed what they could do in Paris with more optimal preparation.

香蕉视频直播淚 would say it香蕉视频直播檚 a bit of a bounce forward,香蕉视频直播� Canadian Paralympic Committee chief executive officer Karen O香蕉视频直播橬eill said Sunday.

香蕉视频直播淭his really is a crossroads for Canada because what we wanted to do was stop the downturn of our reduced performance, especially in summer sport, that香蕉视频直播檚 been evidenced over the last couple of quads.

香蕉视频直播淐OVID was tough for both our Olympians and Paralympians, but it was markedly tougher for our Paralympians because so many additional supports and services were not available.香蕉视频直播�

Canada tied for 15th with India in total medals and tied for 11th with Germany and Uzbekistan in gold among 168 countries.

Canadians stood on the podium in seven sports.

Swimming and track and field led the way with a combined 22 medals, including all 10 gold.

香蕉视频直播淭hey had a really good mix of new and more veteran athletes being able to perform on the highest stage,香蕉视频直播� said CPC chief sport officer Catherine Gosselin-Despr茅s.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 been really refreshing to see in these two big sports that are so important in the Paralympic Games.香蕉视频直播�

Nicholas Bennett of Parksville, B.C., had a breakout Paralympic Games with two gold medals and a silver in swimming.

Tokyo香蕉视频直播檚 Paralympic Games were delayed from 2020 to 2021 and held without spectators because of the pandemic.

Bennett wasn香蕉视频直播檛 rattled by the raucous La Defense Arena atmosphere in his second Paralympic Games.

香蕉视频直播淛ust making the team was a monumental task and then racing some of the best athletes in the world and placing among them to be the best, it香蕉视频直播檚 just been absolutely insane,香蕉视频直播� the 20-year-old said.

香蕉视频直播淭he experience in the pool, it was so loud that I could barely hear my own thoughts. Compared to Tokyo, you could hear a pin drop.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 going to dream of these memories every night probably for the rest of my life.香蕉视频直播�

He and para canoeist Brianna Hennessy of Ottawa were chosen to carry Canada香蕉视频直播檚 flag in Sunday香蕉视频直播檚 closing ceremonies in Place de la Concorde.

Hennessy produced Canada香蕉视频直播檚 first Paralympic medal in canoeing with a silver.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e really seeing an evolution of para sport across the world,香蕉视频直播� the 39-year-old said. 香蕉视频直播淚 always talk about when we come here we香蕉视频直播檙e representing our country, but we香蕉视频直播檙e representing something much bigger than that. It香蕉视频直播檚 the movement of people with disabilities.

香蕉视频直播淧eople with disabilities shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 have to do something extraordinary to be seen or respected in their communities.香蕉视频直播�

The women香蕉视频直播檚 sitting volleyball team香蕉视频直播檚 bronze was Canada香蕉视频直播檚 first Paralympic medal in a team sport since London in 2012.

A common theme among Canadian medallists was they started out in a different para sport before switching to one in which they excelled.

Victoria香蕉视频直播檚 Cody Fournie won a pair of wheelchair racing sprints after a decade in wheelchair rugby. Cycling silver medallist Nathan Clement of West Vancouver, B.C., swam in the 2016 Paralympics before his move to the bike.

Canada香蕉视频直播檚 para sport system must continue to flexible for those moves to happen, Gosselin-Despr茅s said.

香蕉视频直播淟ike most of the top nations in world, we rely a little bit on athlete transfer,香蕉视频直播� she explained. 香蕉视频直播淢any athletes start in a sport and either have a dual sport, or change to a sport where they香蕉视频直播檙e going to be more successful. You can grow your medal-potential group.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 having our coaches and technical leaders being able to have these conversations with the athletes.香蕉视频直播�

Paris marks the first time Canada香蕉视频直播檚 Paralympians will receive bonus money for medals on the same scale as their Olympic counterparts香蕉视频直播� $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.

The CPC will pay athletes out of an $8-million endowment fund. Health tech entrepreneur Sanjay Malaviya of Hespeler, Ont., contributed $4 million and the federal government $2 million to it.

Malaviya also renewed grants of $5,000 per medallist to top up the medal bonuses.

The Paralympics in Paris sold more that 2.3 million tickets, which ranked second behind London香蕉视频直播檚 2.7 million in 2012, according to The Associated Press. French fans were gracious supporters of international athletes and zealous about their own in venues.

香蕉视频直播淚 really hope that witnessing the power of what香蕉视频直播檚 happened here at the Paralympics, and the team that香蕉视频直播檚 returning home, that Canadians will take notice of not only an exceptionally talented team of athletes, but also just the power of sport to demonstrate the diversity of our country and how much we share in common,香蕉视频直播� O香蕉视频直播橬eill said.

香蕉视频直播淣o longer should it be acceptable for the communities and country we live in not to be accessible.香蕉视频直播�

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Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press