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IB SUMMER GAMES 2021 SMEENK READY T0 CHASE DOWN SUCCESS WHEELCHAIR RACER RANKED SECOND IN 100M HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@metroland.com When Austin Smeenk crossed the line in 15.19 sec- icant plishment for the Halton- area athlete. r almost two years without an official compe- tition, he had done more than set a personal best and lowered his record in the T34 wheel. At just ve Smeenk isa veteran racer and holder of three Canadian records. He qualified for his first Pa- ralympics at 16. _Smeenk mpeting in a Parcel race chair and he and, his coach at the time le the difficult decision to Skip the Paralympics, ving it would be better tk his de development. e following year, he demagnsteatet his promise, ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT turning in four top-10 fin- ishes at the world champi- onships. Si , who was born with sasticparaplegia a hereditary disease that causes progressive stiff- ness and contraction in the lower limbs — has contin- ued to rise in the world rankings since then. He had top-eight finishes in both his events at the 2016 Mike Cowley photo Austin Smeenk will compete in his second Paralympics, with a strong chance at a medal in the 100m. Paralympics (sixth in the T34 100m, eighth in the 800m). At the last world cham- pionships, he had three ding fourth in the 800m, which he will also race at the Pa- ralympics. But so far, we podium at a major cham] onship has remained just out of his reach. Now Smeenk heads to Tokyo having recorded a time that would have put him on the podium in 2016. {0 ‘SCAN THIS CODE FOR MORE ON AUSTIN SMEENK ok HAWTIN SHOOTING FOR GOLD NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM VETERAN HOPES TO PUT CANADA BACK ATOP PODIUM HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@metroland.com Canada once dominated wheelchair _ basketball, winning three straight Pa- ralympic gold medals be- tween 1992 and 2000. Melanie Hawtin hopes to return Canada to its place atop the podium. ‘in is one of five players returning from the team that finished fifth in Rioin2016.A national tea feam veteran, win. played basketball vn 2012. Burlington coach Chris Chandler ‘ried to get her to play. But Haw tin had her sights set o1 making the Paralympics i in track. She'd been racing since she was five years old and qualified for the national championships at 10. She was racking up medals and accolades on her way to na- Bona titles in the 100-me- 00-metre and 1, oe metre races and presenting Canada at the wore junior champion- — months before the 2012 Paralympics, Hawtin was told she would need Wheelchair Basketball Canada photo Melanie Hawtin competes against Great Britain at the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation World Championships in Germany. ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT urgery. Her recovery pre: vented her from her race wheelchair be. the cause of the need to lean forware Wan to remain ac- tive ar able tosit more up- right in a basketball chair, she took Chandler up on his offer. Within two years, Hawtin made the national team and helped Canada win a gold medal at the world Shampionships. A year later, she earned a sil- ver medal at the ParaPan- ene in Toronto. jury kept Hawtin out of | the: 2019 ParaPan-Am ;ames in Peru, where Can- ada upset the United States, the reigning Para- low Ha and anadian team head to Tokyo, looking for a repeat performance. [i] SCAN THis cone FOR MORE ABOUT § MELANIE HAWTIN, Authorized by theofficial agent for telanie Lang. WELLINGTON ‘ON HILLS 1-855-799-7004 |MelanieLang.ca Melanie@MelanieLang.ca @molaniovtang FJ] MolanioLangtiberal (O) [FJ WH UONEH - Hl CUL | 2 4 Fy Zz a 2 g Ea s x 8 eordyouy