Canada will be represented by four athletes, including one guide, in the sport of Para triathlon at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games next month, the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and Triathlon Canada announced on July 12.
Four-time world champion Stefan Daniel (Calgary, AB) made history at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games five years ago, becoming the first Canadian to win a medal in Para triathlon in what was the sport’s debut Games. The 24-year-old captured a silver in the men’s PTS5 competition. Since Rio, Daniel has been the most dominant athlete in his classification, winning three straight world titles from 2017-2019.
“I’m really excited to be named to my second Paralympic team,” said Daniel. “I think I’ve become a much more mature and experienced athlete than I was in Rio. I’ve been working really hard for Tokyo for five years now and I’m going to do my absolute best to bring a gold medal home for Canada.”
Kamylle Frenette (Dieppe, NB) qualified for her first Paralympic Games, in the women’s PTS5 event. While she has been training and competing in triathlons for nearly 10 years, Frenette only recently joined the Para triathlon world and made her international debut for the Canadian team in 2018. A pharmacy student when she is not training or competing, the 25-year-old Frenette finished fourth at both the 2018 and 2019 World Championships.
“If someone had told me four years ago that I’d be toeing the line at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, I would never have believed them,” said Frenette. “These past four years have been an incredible time of growth for me, both on the athletic and personal level. I went from being in denial that I had a disability, to embracing it and actually loving my ‘little foot’. I’m humbled to have the opportunity to race and test myself alongside so many incredible athletes this coming August!”
Jessica Tuomela (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) is making her return to the Paralympic Games after a 13-year absence. Tuomela, 37, was on Canada’s Para swimming team at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and Beijing 2008 Games. She swam to a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Games. After a hiatus from sport, Tuomela returned to international competition nine years later – this time, in the sport of Para triathlon. She will be racing in the women’s visually impaired category (PTVI) with guide Marianne Hogan (Montreal, QC), 31, who will be competing in the Paralympic Games for the first time. The pair have been racing together since 2019 where they enjoyed a breakthrough season winning the Tokyo Para World Cup event weeks before celebrating a bronze medal at the World Championships.
“Going to the Paralympics once is pretty incredible in and of itself. It’s something that most people don’t have the opportunity to do. Going for a fourth time and now in a different sport is quite surreal,” said Tuomela. “Representing Canada is an absolute privilege, not a right. I am very excited to step onto the international stage again wearing the maple leaf.”
Canada’s Para triathlon team recently made a triumphant return to international competition in their first race in more than a year following the cancellation of races due to COVID-19. Daniel ran away with the gold medal, Frenette battled to the bronze, while Tuomela and Hogan also captured a bronze at a World Cup event in A Coruna, Spain.
The Para triathlon races in Tokyo will take place August 28 and 29. On tap on the first day will be Tuomela and Hogan, while Daniel and Frenette will compete on day two.
TOKYO 2020 Para triathlon team:
Stefan Daniel – PTS5 – Calgary, AB
Kamylle Frenette – PTS5 – Dieppe, NB
Marianne Hogan – Guide for Jessica Tuomela – Montreal, QC
Jessica Tuomela – PTVI – Sault Ste. Marie, ON
