British Columbia was well represented on the international stage with five high-performance athletes competing at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France.

Michelle Stilwell of Parksville; Nathan Dewitt of Surrey; Braedon Dolfo of Langley; Dustin Walsh of Coquitlam; and Dylan Williamson of Langley competed in several events. Team coach Laurier Primeau also is from British Columbia.

MLA and Paralympian Stilwell was especially successful, picking up three gold medals and setting a new world record.

Stilwell won her first medal of the championships in dramatic fashion on Thursday when she won the re-race of the women's 800-metre event, clocking 2:14.79, and set a new world record in the process. The event was a re-race after Wednesday's crash involving Stilwell and Belgium's Marieke Vervoort, who was disqualified from the final.

Stilwell went on to win gold in the 100 metres on Friday, July 26 with a time of 20.45 seconds, and picked up her third gold on Saturday, July 27 in the 200 metres, setting a new championship record with a time of 35.71 seconds.

Quote:

Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development -

"I want to congratulate all of British Columbia's athletes on their performances at the IPC World Championships. Michelle once again amazed us with her accomplishments, but all of our athletes have done the province proud. They are nothing short of inspirational."

Quick Fact:

The IPC World Athletic Championships ran from July 19-28, 2013, in Lyon, France.

Learn More:

2013 IPC Athletics World Championships: http://www.paralympic.org/Home

Twitter: #2013lyon

Contact:

Communications
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 387-4089