Judoka Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard won the gold medal in the 63 kg category at the Commonwealth Games.
The 28-year-old Montrealer, bronze medalist in the event at the Tokyo Games last summer, defeated Englishwoman Gemma Howell by ippon in overtime.
“It’s something to add to my resume, something more,” said Beauchemin-Pinard. This is my first time at the Commonwealth Games. The opening ceremony was very special. It was good to meet everyone. »
Earlier in the day, weightlifter Maya Laylor won the gold medal at 76 kilos.
The 27-year-old Torontonian set game records by lifting 128 kilos in the clean and jerk and totaling 228 kilos, 12 kilos more than Nigerian silver medalist Taiwo Liadi
“I feel incredibly good. I’m so happy to win a gold medal for Canada,” she said. All the applause encouraged me and the energy kept me going. I felt like I could lift anything my trainer put on the bar and I stayed focused.
“I was tired, but I’m proud of myself. »
Aurélie Rivard of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, a 10-time Paralympic Games medallist, finished second in the 200m individual medley.
On the men’s side, François Gauthier Drapeau won silver at 81 kilos, while Montreal’s Mohab El Nahas won bronze in the same category.
Emma Spence earned her third bronze medal in Birmingham, in the women’s beam event.
The 19-year-old Ontarian also won bronze in the team and all-around competitions.
Thompson-Herah sets the tone
Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah confirmed she was the sprinter to beat at the Commonwealth Games with a strong performance in the 100-metre preliminary heats.
A recent bronze medalist at the World Championships in Oregon, the Jamaican qualified for the semifinals in 10.99 seconds, winning the second of seven heats.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist in the event finished behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson in a Jamaican sweep of the women’s 100 meters at the Worlds.
Thompson-Herah is confident she can return to her best form in Birmingham.
“You have to believe in yourself because no one else can believe in you,” Thompson-Herah said.
“I wanted to do well this year. However long it takes, I’ll get back to the top. (My plans) are to have fun, smile and run”.
Fraser-Pryce is at Birmingham, but has opted out of the games. She is preparing for the rest of the season with her coach Reynaldo Walcott, who has other athletes competing in Birmingham.
The semi-finals and final of the women’s 100m will take place on Wednesday at the Alexander Stadium.
Basketball: Canadian women triumph 3 against 3, in wheelchairs
In 3-on-3 wheelchair basketball, Canadians Élodie Tessier, Tamara Steeves, Tara Llanes and Kady Dandeneau won gold by beating Australia 14-5.
Their compatriots Bo Hedges, Vincent Dallaire and Colin Higgins were beaten 11-9 by Australia in the men’s final game.
In the able-bodied section, Canadians Alex Johnson, Jordan Jenson Whyte, Bikramjit Gill and Adam Paige defeated Scotland 13-12 to claim bronze.
3-on-3 basketball makes its Commonwealth Games debut.