Michelle Stilwell takes Gold

Michelle Stilwell

London, UK – Michelle Stilwell of Nanoose Bay, B.C., today won Canada’s second track and field and Canada’s eight medal overall at the 2012 Paralympic Games. Stilwell won gold in the women’s T52 classification 200-metres in a new Paralympic Games record time of 33.80 seconds. “From the beginning the crowd had a roar and the roar kept going, I’m so happy right now, I’ve put everything into this for the last four years. My whole family is here and I couldn’t be happier to share this with them.”

Stilwell is well on her way in repeating her feat of double gold at the Paralympic Games. At the 2008 Games she took first in the T52 wheelchair 100 and 200-metres. Having just won gold in the 200-metres she’ll now prepare and look forward to the 100-metres final which is set for Wednesday September 5.

Braedon Dolfo of Langley, B.C., finished seventh in the men’s T13 visually impaired 100-metres final. Dolfo crossed the finish line in 11.27 seconds, just one one-hundredth of a second shy of the Canadian record he established in yesterday’s semi-final.

In the men’s T54 wheelchair 100-metres Curtis Thom of Mississauga, Ont., placed third in his heat in 14.47 seconds to advance to tomorrow’s final at 15:35 local time (12:35 eastern time). Colin Mathieson of Winnipeg, MB., was sixth in his heat in a time of 15.25 seconds, he did not advance to the final.

In the men’s T44 amputee 200-metres Alister McQueen of Calgary, Alta., placed third in his heat in 24.25 seconds and did not advance to the final. McQueen will now shift his focus to the javelin which goes tomorrow at 19:05 local time (14:05 eastern time).