September 27, 2004

Fifth gold for Chantal Petitclerc

ATHENS - Chantal Petitclerc of Montreal won her fifth gold medal on Monday to conclude a great performance by the Canadian track and field team at the 2004 Paralympic Games.

In the women’s 200 wheelchair race for paraplegics, Petitclerc clocked 28.95 seconds for her fifth win at the Games. She also won the 100, 400 and 1,500- all in world record time- the 800- in a Games record- over the past nine days.

“I probably needed a little wind to help me get the world record today,” said Petitclerc, 34, who missed the world mark by 0.16 seconds. “But five gold medals, I’m still in a bit of shock. That was my objective and to get some world records on top of that was a bonus.”

Jessica Matassa of Windsor, Ont., was fifth in 30.93.

Other Canadian medal winners in track and field at the Games were Chelsea Clark of Mississauga, Ont., and Lisa Franks of Saskatoon with two gold each, Chelsea Lariviere of Mountain, Ont., Diane Roy of Hatley, Que., with two bronze, and Matassa, Courtney Knight of Burnaby, B.C., France Gagné of Alma, Que., all with one bronze each.

Reprinted with permission