Posted: October 19, 2005

Paralympics: Athletics Canada's Petitclerc and Clark Nominated for 2005 Paralympic Awards

(Ottawa) The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recently announced the nominees for the first ever Paralympic Awards. Chantal Petitclerc (Montréal, QC) and Chelsea Clark (Mississauga, ON) have both been nominated for awards. Petitclerc is nominated in the Best Female Athlete category, while Clark has been nominated in the Best Games Debut category.

Chantal Petitclerc had an outstanding showing at the 2004 Paralympic Games, winning every race in which she competed, taking home five gold medals and setting three world records (100m, 400m, and 1500m). Petitclerc’s other recent accomplishments include being voted Canada’s Top Female Athlete in 2004, she was also named MacLean Magazine’s Person of the Year - 2004.

Chelsea Clark made quite the impression in her first ever Paralympic Games, not only did she win two gold medals, she broke the world record in the women’s 100m cerebral palsy sprint. “To be nominated as one of the best rookies in Athens is an awesome feeling. I know there had to be other athletes who were there for the first time that felt the same excitement, doubts and sometimes outright fear that I did. Somehow we all managed to do our best! And that's what counts.”

The 2005 Paralympic Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the fields of sport and media directly related to the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. The winners will be announced prior to the IPC General Assembly and the awards presentation will take place at the award gala dinner in Bejing, China on November 19th.

Athletics Canada is the national governing body for the sport of track and field including cross-country running and road running.