Canadian canoeist Brianna Hennessy paddles to Paralympic silver in va’a single 200m VL2
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Canadian canoeist Brianna Hennessy raced to a Paralympic silver medal in the women’s va’a single 200-metre VL2 final on Saturday.
The 39-year-old from Ottawa finished behind defending champion Emma Wiggs of Great Britain with a time of one minute 00.12 seconds at Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium.
It’s Canada’s first-ever Paralympic medal in the sport and Hennessy’s first career Paralympic medal.
Wiggs held off the Canadian to capture gold in 58.88, while Australia’s Susan Seipel claimed bronze (1:01.39).
Hennessy will also compete in the semifinals of the women’s kayak single 200m KL1 on Sunday at 4 a.m. ET after finishing fourth in her heat on Friday in 59.02.
Hennessy has also represented Canada in wheelchair rugby. She was a member of Canada’s historic women’s wheelchair rugby team that placed third at the 2023 Women’s Cup in France — the first all-female international wheelchair rugby tournament.
She suffered paralysis when she was struck by a car in Toronto in 2014 at the age of 30.
Canada now has 25 medals at these Games — nine gold, eight silver, eight bronze.
Erica Scarff of Mississauga, Ont., finished fifth in the women’s 200m VL3 final with a mark of 59.48 later on Saturday.
WATCH l CBC Sports’ Shireen Ahmed on Brianna Hennessy’s inspiring journey:
CBC Sports’ Shireen Ahmed highlights the inspiring journey of Canadian paracanoeist and wheelchair rugby player Brianna Hennessy.
