Nathan and I really enjoyed our races in Australia with Coach Joanie Caron. We were at World Cup 1 for 2024. More to come at World Cup 2 and 3 in Belgium Italy this May.
I was the flag bearer for Canada at the Parapan Am Games in Chile, November 2023. It was an incredible honor, especially after winning silver medals in both the Mexico and Toronto Parapan Am Games. My dedication and success are inspiring to other athletes. Go Canada Go!
Thrilled to share my training regimen with you all!
Five mornings a week, you’ll find me pushing myself to the limit, focusing on conditioning and strengthening key muscle groups like hamstrings, quadriceps, and biceps, all while honing my balance skills.
In the afternoons, it’s all about hitting the road on my trusty tricycle, pushing my ride power, cadence, and times to new heights!
The hard work is paying off, and I’m constantly improving!
Santiago, CHE (Nov. 19, 2023) – Team Canada’s road para-cyclists set the bar high on the first day of racing at Calles de Isla de Maipo, CHE, at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games on Nov. 19, winning two gold medals and two bronze medals.
Alexandre Hayward, 26, of Quispamsis, NB, and Mike Sametz, 27, of Calgary, AB, won gold and bronze in the men’s C1-5 category under a blazing sun and motivated by a passionate Chilean crowd. Completing two laps of the 10km course, the maple leaf representatives clocked 26:21.14m and 27:25.14m, respectively. Brazil’s Lauro Cesar Moro completed the podium, finishing 44:92s behind Hayward.
“Mikey and I spent a week together in Bromont leading up to this,” said Hayward. “We’ve kind of been joking around that it would be nice to stand on the podium together and I think to do it on the first day is pretty special. This was a unique time trial. Usually when you leave the start-finish area the fans sort of die off a bit but they were all over the course, which made it a lot of fun.”
In a mixed start that combined men and women in the T1-T2 categories, reigning World Champion Nathan Clement, 29, of West Vancouver, BC, and Paralympian Shelley Gautier, 55, of Niagara Falls, ON, left it all on the course. With a time of 15:44.73m, Clement came out on top, finishing 1:29m ahead of Dale Connors of the United States. Colombia’s Juan Betancourt took third place with a time of 17:46.71m while Gautier finished fifth with a time of 18:42.12m.
“Being here, hearing the crowd of everyone here has been absolutely amazing,” said Clement. “The loud noise all throughout the course, even riding the course yesterday and seeing the mountains in the distance was absolutely breathtaking.”
National Team Coach Phil Abbott added, “We came here to test out a couple of things and see what Nathan could do, I think today’s been really exciting and there’s hopefully a bright future for the rest of the season as we lead into Paris and get prepared for that.”
Rio 2016 Paralympic medallist Charles Moreau, 41, of Victoriaville, QC, went on to claim bronze in the men’s H1-H5 category with his time of 31:46.65m, 27.60s behind winner Eric Ryan Pinney of the United States. They were joined on the podium by Brandon Lyons (+19.28s), also from the United States, with silver.
“Most of the time, I visualize race situations and I visualize the stronger runners I have ahead of me that I need to catch,” commented Moreau. “When it’s harder, I tend to think about the people at home. We spend a lot of time away from home, away from family, so often it’s an extra source of motivation, to tell yourself that you’re making sacrifices for them and it’s affecting them too, so you push even harder.”
In a strong ride, 29-year-old Paralympian Keely Shaw from Saskatoon, SK, finished in fourth place with a time of 15:34.08, just 0.6s behind the bronze medal won by Daniela Carolia Munevar, of Colombia. Gold and silver medals went to Samanta Bosco (15:08.01m) and Jamie Whitmore (15:29.13m), both from the USA. Mel Pemble, 23, from Victoria, BC, also took part in the event. She finished in seventh place, with a time of 16:55.52m.
More information, including results and the full schedule of events, can be found at www.santiago2023.org. Competition for Team Canada’s para-cyclists continues Nov. 23 with track competition.
Note: Tarek Dahab (MC2), of Beloeil, QC, will no longer be competing at the Games due to health reasons.
Almost 15 years after claiming her 4rst world title, Shelley Gautier is still a regular on the podium at major international events. In 2023, at age 54, Gautier collected bronze medals in the women’s T1 road race and the time trial at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2021 she competed at her third Paralympic Games posting two top-10 finishes. In the final 2018 World Cup standings, Gautier 4nished off an incredible road season that saw her sweep all six World Cup events – three time trials and three road races – for a perfect 360 points, in addition to her two world championship titles. Gautier has raced at three Paralympic Games (London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020) with the highlight a bronze medal in the women’s T1 time trial in 2016. Gautier was a silver medallist at the mixed time trial event at the 2015 Parapan American Games. She also founded the Shelley Gautier Para-Sport Foundation to bring Para sport to more people with a disability. In 2015 Gautier was honoured with The Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Alumni Association Above & Beyond Award by the University of Toronto. Gautier was also inducted into the Inaugural Toronto Sports Hall of Honour and awarded the Sports Niagara Para-Athlete of the Year in Para Cycling. In 2001, Gautier was in a mountain biking accident and suffered a severe head injury leaving her in a coma for six weeks. She now leads an independent life as a hemiplegic (with paralysis on one side of the body). Within a year she was back on a bike again and by 2007 she was racing 50 kilometres.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 18-time world champion… 2012, 2016, 2020 Paralympic Games (bronze in 2016 time trial)…In 2019 the inaugural winner of the Best Female category at the Canadian Cyclist Awards… Also named one of the ‘Top 10 Canadian cyclists of the decade’… Nominated for 2015 Laureus Award as Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability… 2011, 2015 Parapan American Games…
PERSONAL
Launched Shelley Gautier Para Sport Foundation in 2014…Donates her time to several different programs at the University of Toronto including the anatomy and occupational therapy departments… Degrees in physical education from the University of Western Ontario and in physical therapy from the University of Toronto.
NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS 2023 World Championships, road race, 3rd 2023 World Championships, individual time trial, 3rd 2021 Paralympic Games, road race, 5th 2021 Paralympic Games, road race, 8th 2021 World Championships, road race, 1st 2021 World Championships, time trial 1st 2019 World Championships, road race, 2nd 2019 World Championships, time trial, 3rd 2018 World Championships, time trial, 1st 2018 World Championships, road race, 1st 2017 World Championships, time trial, 1st 2017 World Championships, road race, 1st 2016 Paralympic Games, individual time trial, 3rd 2016 Paralympic Games, road race, 6th 2015 Parapan Am Games, time trial, 2nd 2015 World Championship, road race, 1st 2015 World Championship, time trial, 1st 2014 World Championships, road race, 1st 2014 World Championships, time trial, 1st 2013 World Championships, road race, 1st 2013 World Championships, time trial, 1st 2012 Paralympic Games, road race 14th 2012 Paralympic Games, time trial 11th 2011 Parapan Am Games time trial 2nd 2011 World Championships, road race, 1st 2011 World Championships, time trial, 1st 2010 World Championships, road race, 1st 2010 World Championships, time trial, 1st 2009 World Championships, road race, 1st 2009 World Championships, time trial, 1st
Paralympic medallists headline star-studded Canadian Para cycling team nominated for 2023 Parapan Am Games
– Shelley Gautier, Charles Moreau, Mike Sametz, and Keely Shaw among eight riders set to compete
– Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games takes place November 17-26 in Santiago, Chile
The team is comprised of four Paralympians in the sport of Para cycling, all of whom have captured Paralympic medals – Shelley Gautier, Charles Moreau, Mike Sametz, and Keely Shaw. Nathan Clement and Mel Pemble are also Paralympians, but competed in other sports – Para swimming and Para alpine skiing, respectively.
– Shelley Gautier, Charles Moreau, Mike Sametz, and Keely Shaw among eight riders set to compete – Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games takes place November 17-26 in Santiago, Chile
Ottawa, September 25, 2023 – An experienced and accomplished team of eight Para cyclists have been nominated to compete for Canada at the Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Cycling Canada announced on Monday.
Santiago 2023 Canadian Parapan Am Team – PARA CYCLINGNathan Clement – West Vancouver, BC – T1 (classification)Tarek Dahab – Beloeil, QC – C2Shelley Gautier – Niagara Falls, ON – T1Alexandre Hayward – Quispamsis, NB – C3Charles Moreau – Victoriaville, QC – H3Mel Pemble – Victoria, BC – C3Mike Sametz – Calgary, AB – C3Keely Shaw – Midale, SK – C4The team is comprised of four Paralympians in the sport of Para cycling, all of whom have captured Paralympic medals – Shelley Gautier, Charles Moreau, Mike Sametz, and Keely Shaw. Nathan Clement and Mel Pemble are also Paralympians, but competed in other sports – Para swimming and Para alpine skiing, respectively.
“I’m thrilled to represent Canada at the Parapan Am Games and have the opportunity to build on the results of the 2023 world championships,” said Clement. “Having experienced racing at the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto for swimming, I’m ecstatic to attend another multi-sport Games. To get the chance to race in front of loud and passionate crowds only fuels the fire to take in the learning and growth needed as the 2024 season kicks off.”
Gautier is the most experienced member of the team. A three-time Paralympian (2012, 2016, 2020) and 18-time world champion, she also won a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. She has been to two Parapan Am Games (2011, 2015), with silver medals from both.
Two-time Paralympian (2016, 2020) Moreau was one of Canada’s top riders in Rio with two bronze medals. Also a two-time bronze medallist in his sole Parapan Am Games appearance in 2015, he has been one of the best in the world in his very competitive classification for many years.
Sametz made a successful return to international competition this year after missing the past four seasons due to injury and illness. He is a Rio 2016 Paralympian, Paralympic bronze medallist, former world champion, and Toronto 2015 Parapan Am silver medallist.
A Tokyo 2020 Paralympian, Shaw captured Canada’s first medal at those Games with a bronze in the individual pursuit. Since making her maiden world championships appearance in 2018, she has steadily risen the ranks and is now an established star.
“Santiago is going to be an excellent opportunity to gauge where I’m at ahead of the Paris Paralympics,” said Shaw. “The competition is sure to be tough but I’m looking forward to seeing how I stack up, and hopefully bringing home some hardware from Santiago. Performances in Chile will then set the stage for the last push into Paris, where I hope to better my results from Tokyo.”
Clement and Pemble both have become forces to watch in only their second seasons competing on the international Para cycling circuit. Clement, who has Parapan Am Games experience in Para swimming with a bronze medal in 2015, is now a four-time world championships medallist. For her part, Pemble made a thunderous worlds debut in 2022, posting two gold medals and a world record and hasn’t slowed down since with two more podiums in 2023.
“I am thrilled to be selected for my first Parapan Am Games,” said Pemble. “As a winter athlete, it was an event I looked on at like a kid peering through the window of a candy shop, so to be able to experience them myself is a very exciting opportunity! Coming off a world championships that went so well, I hope to carry that success forward, but there was also unfinished business with some of the goals I made, and I plan on rectifying that in these Games.”
Alexandre Hayward and Tarek Dahab will be making their major multi-sport Games debuts. Hayward, who also competed in wheelchair basketball at a high level, earned a fifth place at his first world championships appearance in 2022. This is Dahab’s first year on the national team and he has proved he belongs among the best in the world with a fourth place in the time trial at this summer’s worlds.
This squad came home with 10 medals from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, held in Glasgow in August. This includes two world titles – Clement in the men’s T1 road time trial and Pemble in the women’s C3 Omnium on the track (not a Parapan Am event).
Para road cycling at the Parapan Am Games will take place November 19 and 26, with Para track cycling racing November 23 and 24. The event counts towards Paralympic Games qualifying, with riders earning points for their results. Country quota spots for Para cycling at Paris 2024 will be based on rankings from various competitions taking place before June 30, 2024.
Dahab, Hayward, Pemble, Sametz, and Shaw will race in both the track and road competitions with all eight team members participating in the road races.
Four athletes will be making their first Parapan Am Games appearances – Dahab, Hayward, Pemble, and Shaw – with Clement making his Parapan Am debut in the sport of Para cycling.
“I am so thrilled to welcome all eight Para cyclists to the Canadian Parapan Am Team,” said Josh Vander Vies, co-chef de mission, Santiago 2023 Canadian Parapan Am Team. “This is a supremely accomplished team that I am sure will make its presence known in Santiago. It was very exciting to follow along their superb results at the world championships this summer, and I can’t wait to watch and support them in person at the Games.”
“What an incredible group of athletes,” said Karolina Wisniewska, co-chef de mission. “All eight racers are coming off a very successful summer of competition, and whether they have been to multiple Paralympic Games, or this is their first multi-sport Games, are now heading into Santiago as top contenders to watch. Congratulations to each athlete on being selected to represent your country; it will be a delight to cheer you on and know that the entire Canadian contingent will be behind you in Santiago.”
The Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games will take place November 17-26, 2023 in Santiago, Chile. Canada is expecting to send a team of approximately 140 athletes.
Prior to being officially named to the Canadian Parapan Am Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
The current list of athletes nominated to the team can be found HERE. The approved final roster will be announced closer to the start of the Games.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee:Paralympic.ca
In 2023, there was a total of 3 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cups on the following dates:
Maniago (ITA) 2023 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup – April 20-24, 2023
Ostend (BEL) 2023 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup – May 4-7, 2023
Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 2023 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup – May 26-29, 2023.
Above are the dates for the three World Cups I competed in. August 1 I leave for World Championships in Scotland.
World Cup 3 – Shelley won 2 Bronze MedalsWord Cup 2 in Belgium
April 20232023 Canadian Road Paracycling Championships – Gold Medal in Time Trial and Gold Medal in Road Race
Shelley Gautier was included as a leading Sports Lady from the Niagara Region. The pictures are of her at the Niagara Falls museum. Thank you to everyone who attended
Road to Paris 2024 