Canadian Sport News
September 8, 2008

Protest takes gold away from Diane Roy in women’s 5,000 wheelchair race

BEIJING – A reported three-country protest forced Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., to hand over her gold medal earned in the women’s 5,000-metre wheelchair race in track and field action on Monday at the Paralympic Games.

Roy crossed the finish line first in a race that was marred by a crash that implicated six of the 11 racers, two of whom were taken to hospital by ambulance. Roy clocked a Games record 11:54.03 and went through the entire medal ceremony before learning of the successful protest.

The Jury of Appeal has ordered the re-run of the race to be held on Friday according to a brief statement on the Beijing Paralympic website..The crash involved Tracey Ferguson of Holland Landing, Ont. Ferguson did not sustain any serious injuries and said she is set to play wheelchair basketball tomorrow. Along with racing, Ferguson is a member of the women’s wheelchair basketball team at the Beijing Paralympic Games.Roy avoided the accident as she had moved to the side to pass on the final lap.

In a men’s discus final, Kyle Pettey of Brampton, Ont., finished 10th with a 30.26 metre toss earned on his first throw. Aigars Apinis of Latvia won the gold medal with a world record throw.

Also on the track, three Canadians racers advanced. In the men’s 5,000 wheelchair race, Josh Cssidy of Port Elgin, Ont., was fourth in his heat to advance to the finals with a season-best 10:15.11. Michel Filteau of St-Jean-Baptiste, Que., and Mark Ledo of Maple, Ont., were eliminated.

In the men’s 400 wheelchair race, Jean-Paul Compaore of Sherbrooke, Que., and Colin Mathieson of Winnipeg were fourth in their respective heats clocking 49.42 and 49.81 respectively to advance to the semifinals.

Jason Dunkerley of Ottawa didn’t advance in the men’s 100 and 800-metre races for visually impaired He clocked a season best 2:03.60 in the 800.

Competition continues Tuesday.