Canada’s Papaconstantinou claims bronze at world para athletics championships

Netherland's Marlene van Gansewinkel, centre, celebrates with Irmgard Bensusan of Germany, second place, and Canada's Marissa Papaconstantinou, third place, after winning the women's T64 100m final at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

NEW DELHI — Marissa Papaconstantinou claimed Canada’s second medal of the world para athletics championships with a bronze in the women’s T64 100 metres Wednesday.

Papaconstantinou, a three-time Paralympian from Toronto who was born without a right foot and began sprinting with a running blade at age 12, crossed the finish line in 13.06 seconds.

Fleur Jong captured gold in 12.29 seconds, and Marlene Van Gansewinkel took silver in 12.86. Both athletes represent the Netherlands.

“The race was definitely not a clean race on my part,” Papaconstantinou said. ”I was definitely hoping for a little bit of a better start. I was pretty fast through the middle, though. I think I was able to make up for it.

“Getting back on the podium is always nice, so I really can’t complain.”

Papaconstantinou also thought she did well under the circumstances.

The bus ride to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium took two hours because of a traffic jam in New Delhi, leaving several athletes with only minutes to prepare for their events.

“Considering some of those variables, it’s not a bad result at all. I was like, ‘Oh, it’s fine. We have time, we have so much time,’” she said. “I was saying that until the very end. Then I ran off the bus and put my blade on.”

The 25-year-old Papaconstantinou will also compete in the women’s T64 200 metres event on Sunday.

“It is nice that I do have a couple of days between the two events so I can really get a little bit of a rest in between, fuel and hydrate,” Papaconstantinou said. “Then I’m going to go out there and have fun for the 200. I’ve been training really hard for the 200 specifically all year, so I’m really excited to kind of finally put those pieces together.”

Austin Smeenk of Oakville, Ont., won bronze in the men’s T34 400 metres Monday for Canada’s first medal of the event.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2025.