For the second straight Paralympic Games, Barrie discus thrower Renee Foessel has hurled her way to a fourth-place finish against some of the top athletes in the world.
Foessel arrived home late Tuesday night after competing in Japan at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
The 26-year-old Barrie Police Services records and information management clerk, who also finished fourth in Rio in 2016, said this year's competition was a tough battle against the elements.
“It rained like you wouldn’t believe,” said Foessel. “It didn’t let up and made the competition very challenging.”
Foessel was in second place until the third or fourth round and tried to implement the plan she and her coach had come up with, but the rain only got worse.
“It became an absolute downpour and trying to throw the discus as far as I could was very difficult,” said Foessel. “We were all dealing with the issue and just became continuously worse throughout the day.”
Foessel said there were a lot of faults (violations while in the throwing circle) due to the rain and many competitors were stepping out of the circle.
“In my fifth and sixth (final) throw, the plan was just to try and really build my strength and get one out there,” said Foessel. “There is a video of my sixth throw and when you zoom in you can see the water filling the circle to the brim. When I stepped out of the circle it was raining so hard I couldn't see very well while walking.”
Foessel, who was born with cerebral palsy that affects one side of her body, was the youngest Canadian para-athlete at the 2011 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championship. In 2013, she was also named most outstanding female field performer by Athletics Ontario.
This summer Foessel was able to achieve a world record in the F38 Discus with a throw of 37 metres, 83 centimetres. The official world record previous to that was 33 metres, 97 centimetres.
But competing in the 2020 Tokyo Games was a highlight for her. While she didn't want to discuss too much the COVID-19 pandemic that pushed the Games back to this year, Foessel did mention how "incredible the organizing committee and Japan had done to keep the athletes bubbled and safe.”
Foessel departed for Japan on Aug. 19 and while Canadian athletes were not permitted to attend the Opening Ceremonies, she was present at the closing.
“Those that wished to were allowed to attend the closing ceremonies, and the flag bearer for the closing ceremonies was chosen from the Athletics team, Brent Lakatos,” said Foessel. “I decided to attend the closing ceremonies and it was well put together, organized and entertaining.”
“It's indescribable the amount of pride I have in wearing a jersey with the flag. To represent Canada on a stage like that is amazing,” said Foessel. “I really do wish that everyone could experience something like it; it is beyond words.”
As for the future, Foessel and her coach have decided to take a much deserved break to relax before getting back at it.
“In the next couple weeks we’ll sit down and work out a plan for next year’s World Championships, which are in Kobe, Japan,” said Foessel. “But after achieving what I have already I am very hungry for more so I would think I will be aiming for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, France.”
