5 September 2012
Ottawa, Ontario
]Prime Minister Stephen Harper today congratulated swimmer Benoît Huot on his silver medal in the Men's 400-metre Freestyle (S10), swimmer Aurélie Rivard on her silver medal in the Women's 400-metre Freestyle (S10), wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos on his silver medal in the Men’s 800-metre (T53), wheelchair racer Michelle Stilwell on her silver medal in the Women’s 100-metre (T52), and cyclist Marie-Claude Molnar on her bronze medal in the Women's Individual Time Trial (C4), at the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games in London.
“On behalf of the entire country, I want to congratulate all of our athletes on their excellent performances today,” said the Prime Minister. “They have each risen to the challenge and secured their spot in Paralympic history, and Canadians are truly proud.”
Benoît Huot, of Longueuil, Quebec, is a veteran Paralympic swimmer. This is Mr. Huot’s fourth Paralympic Games, and his 19th Paralympic medal, the third of these Games in London. At the Sydney Games in 2000, Mr. Huot took home three gold medals and three silver medals. Four years later in Athens, he won five gold medals and one silver medal, and at the 2008 Games in Beijing, Mr. Huot won four bronze medals.
Aurélie Rivard, of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, is a first time Paralympian and this is her first Paralympic medal. In 2011, Ms. Rivard earned bronze medals in the 400-metre freestyle and 100-metre breaststroke at the Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships in Edmonton, Alberta.
Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Quebec, is a three-time Paralympian, having previously competed in the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games. This is his second Paralympic medal of these Games, having already won a silver medal in the Men’s 400-metre (T53). In 2011, Mr. Lakatos, a wheelchair racer, won a silver medal in the 200-meter and a bronze in the 100-meter events (T53) at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships in New Zealand.
Michelle Stilwell was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and currently resides in Parksville, British Columbia. This is her third Paralympic Games, and her fifth Paralympic medal, the second in London. Ms. Stilwell previously won gold at the 2000 Games in Sydney (wheelchair basketball), at the 2008 Games in Beijing (wheelchair racing, 100- and 200-metre), and during the current London Games (wheelchair racing 200-metre). At the 2011 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships in New Zealand, Ms. Stilwell won three gold medals and one silver medal.
Marie-Claude Molnar was born in Greenfield Park, Quebec, and resides in Sainte-Adèle, Quebec. This is her first time competing at the Paralympic Games and her first Paralympic medal. In 2011, Ms. Molnar placed second at the 2011 World Track Championships, and won a bronze medal at the 2011 Guadalajara Parapan American Games in cycling, women’s individual pursuit.
The 2012 Summer Paralympic Games are being held from August 29 to September 9 in London, United Kingdom. Canada is being represented by more than 145 athletes who are competing in 15 sports. More than 4,000 athletes from 125 countries are participating in the largest ever Paralympic Games.
