Para Sport Nation

Fresh off the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships, Danielle Dorris chats with Nathan to break down her latest achievements in Singapore. She opens up about setting a new championship record in the 50m butterfly, her silver medal in the 100m backstroke, and how she balances personal expectations with the pressure of international competition. The conversation highlights Danielle’s long-standing...

This conversation dives into the world of Showdown—a tactile, sound-based sport where athletes compete on a table using wooden paddles, a ball filled with bearings, and blackout eye shades for an even playing field. Jerri Mather and Millie Britton from the Sheffield Strikers share how they discovered the game through their local blind centre and how it helped them navigate vision loss, build confi...

Brianna Hennessy shares the intense highs and lows of elite sport—from the pride of representing Canada to the frustration of a world-title race disrupted by a critical equipment mishap. In this candid conversation with Nathan and Alex, she details how a loose foam block and strong crosswind nearly disqualified her mid-race, yet she still powered to silver. Brianna opens up about the mental battle...

Canada’s para ice hockey program is zeroed in on the 2026 Winter Paralympics, and this episode gives an inside look at the drive, talent, and personalities fueling that pursuit. Alex sits down with stars Liam Hickey and Dominic Cozzolino during the CPC Media Summit to reflect on the lessons from their 2024 World Championship win, the impact of the team’s evolving coaching staff, and the mental and...

On this episode of Para Sport Nation Paralympian Trinity Lowthian recounts how a love of niche sports led her to wheelchair fencing and a record-breaking result for Canada at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. She reflects on a quiet but rewarding competitive season, including a bronze medal at the Brazil World Cup and a top 10 finish at the 2025 World Championships in South Korea. Trinity explains the c...

Alex Hayward shares his journey leading up to his first World Championship title. After choosing to train from home in New Brunswick, Alex balanced work, life, and rigorous cycling training—completing every planned workout in the eight months leading up to the competition. Despite a back injury and equipment challenges on race day, his discipline and mental resilience carried him through, culminat...

On this episode, Rob Shaw breaks down his latest US Open experience—from a dramatic three-set first-round win to a tough singles loss and the demands of doubles play with longtime partner Heath Davidson. He discusses the physical toll of a near year-round international schedule, the importance of mental resilience, and how pursuing a PhD helped him stay grounded as a full-time athlete. Rob also of...

Para archery is a sport of precision, strategy, and resilience. In this in-depth conversation, Team Canada’s Kyle Tremblay explains the structure of para archery competitions, from qualification rounds and elimination matches to the intense pressure of single-arrow shoot-offs. Kyle opens up about his journey into para archery after an accident, the challenges of competing in a sport where focus an...

The Mobility Cup is Canada’s premier adaptive sailing competition, bringing together athletes of all abilities to compete on equal terms. In this conversation, René Dallaire shares the history of the event, its roots in Vancouver in 1991, and its tradition of moving from city to city each year. From the unique challenges and opportunities of hosting in Montreal, to the technology that makes sailin...

In this episode of ParaSport Nation , Alex Smyth and guest co-host Kelly MacDonald dive into the latest in Canadian para sport. The show begins with big news from Canadian Blind Hockey, announcing three new programs across Victoria and Edmonton — a clear sign of the sport’s national growth. Next, Paralympic sit skier Kurt Oatway joins the conversation to discuss his breakout 2024–25 season, the te...

In this episode of Para Sport Nation, host Alex Smyth and guest co-host Kelly MacDonald speak with Cindy Burwell, Executive Director of the Ottawa 2026 Wheelchair Basketball World Championships. Cindy reveals what it takes to plan an international competition with over 300 athletes, from booking venues and transportation to ensuring every detail meets accessibility standards. The conversation dive...

On this episode of Para Sport Nation, Alex shares interviews with Four para-athletes competing at the 2025 Summer Games. Christel Robichaud, team captain and veteran competitor, shares her thoughts on the bittersweet emotions of her final Canada Games. From leading teammates to chasing podium finishes, she reflects on lessons learned and what comes next. A record-setter in discus and shot put, Rém...

The 2025 Canada Games are just about wrapped up, and CEO Karen Sherriffs reflects on what it takes to host the country’s biggest multi-sport event. From overcoming unexpected challenges—including nearby wildfires and an airline strike—to ensuring athletes can still compete at the highest level, the Games have been a story of resilience and teamwork. Karen shares her personal journey with the Canad...

On this episode of Para Sport Nation, Christina Picton talks about the significance of competing at the first-ever Women’s Para Ice Hockey World Championships and what it means for her personally after joining the sport at just 11 years old. She highlights the team’s preparation — from rivalry series games against the USA to national training camps — and the shared focus and energy heading into co...

On this episode, Canadian men’s goalball captain, Peter Parsons takes us inside Canada’s fourth-place finish at the Pan American Championships, describing the emotional rollercoaster of defeating the USA, falling to Argentina in the semifinals, and coping with key injuries — including teammate Mason Smith’s broken foot and separated shoulder in the same play. He shares personal connections with No...

On this episode of Parasport Nation, we sit down with Team Canada wheelchair rugby star Matt Debly to dive into his journey from wheelchair basketball at the 2015 Canada Games to scoring a last-second game-winner at the Americas Championship. Matt shares the adrenaline-fueled story of how he was recruited into wheelchair rugby, his electrifying debut at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, and how Can...

On this episode of Para Sport Nation, Alex and Nathan are joined by Hillary Scanlon and Matt Greenwood of the Canadian Women’s Blind Soccer team. From grassroots efforts to competing on the world stage in India, they discuss the challenges of growing the sport, training remotely, and the game-changing support from Canada Soccer. Their dedication is helping pave the way for blind soccer to gain nat...

In this episode of PSN, hosts Alex Smyth and Nathan Clement are joined by AMI's Kelly MacDonald, who shares his deep history with goalball and vision impairment (V.I.) sports. From childhood experiences at W. Ross Macdonald School to his thoughts on current media coverage of adaptive sports, Kelly dives into the impact of grassroots exposure and what para sport needs to grow. The episode also high...

Canadian Paralympian and World Champion Stefan Daniel joins PSN to share his journey through para-sport, his passion for triathlon, and how he’s navigating the challenges of elite competition post-Paris Paralympics. Alex and Nathan explore Stefan’s training strategies, mental toughness, and how simplifying life outside of sport is his secret to success. Stefan talks about dealing with the "post-Pa...

We’re back with more coverage from the 2026 Canadian Paralympic Media Summit! Canadian para ice hockey captain Tyler McGregor sits down with Alex to talk preparation, mindset, and the path to The 2026 Games in Milano Coritna. The newly unveiled 2026 Paralympic medal designs are making waves—are they striking gold or missing the mark? Nathan and Alex weigh in. Plus, it’s time for another round of b...

Wheelchair rugby star Zak Madell joins the show following his retirement from the national team after an incredible 13-year career. He looks back on his journey, shares highlights from his time on the court, and talks about what’s next in this new chapter of his life. Plus, in honour of Zak’s fashion trends over the years, Alex and Nathan discuss their favourite styles and superstitions leading in...

In this episode, we bring you more coverage from the 2026 Canadian Paralympic Media Summit! Alex sits down with Para Alpine athletes Mollie Jepsen, Kalle Erickson, and guide Sierra Smith to talk about their seasons so far and how they’re gearing up for Milano Cortina. Then, things take a fun turn as Alex challenges Nathan to blindly power rank five summer para sports! Follow Para Sport Nation on Y...

Swimming Canada’s new Associate Director of High Performance for the Paralympic Program, Jocelyn Jay, joins Alex and Nathan to chat about stepping into the role, her goals for the future of para swimming, and how her past experience with the National Team and at the 2019 Parapan Am Games has prepared her for this next chapter. Plus, the guys dive into a debate on Hall of Fames after BC Curling’s m...

On this episode, we bring you two more conversations from the 2026 Canadian Paralympic Media Summit. We catch up with wheelchair curling stars Mark Ideson and Ina Forrest as they reflect on recent competitions, their Paralympic success, and how they’re preparing for Milano-Cortina. Plus, Alex and Nathan weigh in on the controversial disqualification of para-swimmer Arianna Hunsicker. Follow Para S...

On this episode of PSN, Paralympic champion wheelchair racer Austin Smeenk joins the show to reflect on his exciting season so far, including his latest competitions across Europe. Austin shares insights into the science behind his training and racing setup, revealing how he fine-tunes every detail to gain a competitive edge. And of course, it’s not all business — the conversation heats up as the...