September 26, 2004

Lisa Franks wins second gold medal at Paralympic Games

ATHENS - Lisa Franks of Saskatoon won her second gold medal on Sunday at the Paralympic Games with a decisive victory in the women’s 200-metre wheelchair race for paraplegics.

Franks clocked 36.72 seconds just missing her world record of 36.63 set in Saturday’s semifinal. Karen March of Prince Albert, Sask., was eighth.

“I knew that I just had to go out and be relaxed,” said Franks, 22. “I was hoping for a world record, but the conditions didn't help. There was a headwind during the race and I felt pain in my arm, something that has bothered me the last few months. But I tried to put it in the back of my mind. It could have been faster, but I'm still happy with the gold medal."

In the women’s 200 wheelchair race for paraplegics, quadruple champion Chantal Petitclerc of Montreal and Jessica Matassa of Windsor, Ont., qualified first and fifth for the final.

With one day remaining in track and field Canada has eighth gold, four silver and nine bronze.

Reprinted with permission