What looked like a bounce back for Canada at the Paralympic Games was more of a return to form.

Canada91裸聊视频檚 10 gold medals in Paris were the most since 19 in Beijing in 2008, and also doubled the output at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

The 29 medals overall matched Rio in 2016 and far surpassed the 21 in Tokyo.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected para sport more than able-bodied sport with international and domestic competition decimated.

Canada91裸聊视频檚 tight restrictions around the pandemic added an extra layer of challenge for Tokyo hopefuls in addition to the adaptations they made to pursue their sport.

Canadian athletes showed what they could do in Paris with more optimal preparation.

91裸聊视频淚 would say it91裸聊视频檚 a bit of a bounce forward,91裸聊视频� Canadian Paralympic Committee chief executive officer Karen O91裸聊视频橬eill said Sunday.

91裸聊视频淭his really is a crossroads for Canada because what we wanted to do was stop the downturn of our reduced performance, especially in summer sport, that91裸聊视频檚 been evidenced over the last couple of quads.

91裸聊视频淐OVID was tough for both our Olympians and Paralympians, but it was markedly tougher for our Paralympians because so many additional supports and services were not available.91裸聊视频�

Canada tied for 15th with India in total medals and tied for 11th with Germany and Uzbekistan in gold among 168 countries.

Canadians stood on the podium in seven sports.

Swimming and track and field led the way with a combined 22 medals, including all 10 gold.

91裸聊视频淭hey had a really good mix of new and more veteran athletes being able to perform on the highest stage,91裸聊视频� said CPC chief sport officer Catherine Gosselin-Despr茅s.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 been really refreshing to see in these two big sports that are so important in the Paralympic Games.91裸聊视频�

Nicholas Bennett of Parksville, B.C., had a breakout Paralympic Games with two gold medals and a silver in swimming.

Tokyo91裸聊视频檚 Paralympic Games were delayed from 2020 to 2021 and held without spectators because of the pandemic.

Bennett wasn91裸聊视频檛 rattled by the raucous La Defense Arena atmosphere in his second Paralympic Games.

91裸聊视频淛ust making the team was a monumental task and then racing some of the best athletes in the world and placing among them to be the best, it91裸聊视频檚 just been absolutely insane,91裸聊视频� the 20-year-old said.

91裸聊视频淭he experience in the pool, it was so loud that I could barely hear my own thoughts. Compared to Tokyo, you could hear a pin drop.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 going to dream of these memories every night probably for the rest of my life.91裸聊视频�

He and para canoeist Brianna Hennessy of Ottawa were chosen to carry Canada91裸聊视频檚 flag in Sunday91裸聊视频檚 closing ceremonies in Place de la Concorde.

Hennessy produced Canada91裸聊视频檚 first Paralympic medal in canoeing with a silver.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e really seeing an evolution of para sport across the world,91裸聊视频� the 39-year-old said. 91裸聊视频淚 always talk about when we come here we91裸聊视频檙e representing our country, but we91裸聊视频檙e representing something much bigger than that. It91裸聊视频檚 the movement of people with disabilities.

91裸聊视频淧eople with disabilities shouldn91裸聊视频檛 have to do something extraordinary to be seen or respected in their communities.91裸聊视频�

The women91裸聊视频檚 sitting volleyball team91裸聊视频檚 bronze was Canada91裸聊视频檚 first Paralympic medal in a team sport since London in 2012.

A common theme among Canadian medallists was they started out in a different para sport before switching to one in which they excelled.

Victoria91裸聊视频檚 Cody Fournie won a pair of wheelchair racing sprints after a decade in wheelchair rugby. Cycling silver medallist Nathan Clement of West Vancouver, B.C., swam in the 2016 Paralympics before his move to the bike.

Canada91裸聊视频檚 para sport system must continue to flexible for those moves to happen, Gosselin-Despr茅s said.

91裸聊视频淟ike most of the top nations in world, we rely a little bit on athlete transfer,91裸聊视频� she explained. 91裸聊视频淢any athletes start in a sport and either have a dual sport, or change to a sport where they91裸聊视频檙e going to be more successful. You can grow your medal-potential group.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 having our coaches and technical leaders being able to have these conversations with the athletes.91裸聊视频�

Paris marks the first time Canada91裸聊视频檚 Paralympians will receive bonus money for medals on the same scale as their Olympic counterparts91裸聊视频� $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.

The CPC will pay athletes out of an $8-million endowment fund. Health tech entrepreneur Sanjay Malaviya of Hespeler, Ont., contributed $4 million and the federal government $2 million to it.

Malaviya also renewed grants of $5,000 per medallist to top up the medal bonuses.

The Paralympics in Paris sold more that 2.3 million tickets, which ranked second behind London91裸聊视频檚 2.7 million in 2012, according to The Associated Press. French fans were gracious supporters of international athletes and zealous about their own in venues.

91裸聊视频淚 really hope that witnessing the power of what91裸聊视频檚 happened here at the Paralympics, and the team that91裸聊视频檚 returning home, that Canadians will take notice of not only an exceptionally talented team of athletes, but also just the power of sport to demonstrate the diversity of our country and how much we share in common,91裸聊视频� O91裸聊视频橬eill said.

91裸聊视频淣o longer should it be acceptable for the communities and country we live in not to be accessible.91裸聊视频�

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Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press