Erica Scarff (born 16 August 1996) is a Canadian paracanoeist who competes in international level events.[1]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Erica Carmela Scarff |
| Born | 16 August 1996 |
| Home town | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Alma mater | Brock University (St. Catharines) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Sport | Paracanoe |
| Disability | Osteosarcoma survivor |
| Disability class | KL3 |
| Club | Mississauga Canoe Club, Mississauga, Canada |
| Coached by | Mari Ellery |
Early life and education
editShe was a former national gymnast before she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma aged twelve after she broke her right leg when she ran into a vault in her gymnastics training session. Her leg was amputated soon after, in 2009.[2] Scarff was a very active person before her diagnosis: she tried swimming, cycling and alpine skiing but chose canoeing. Since her diagnosis, she was inspired by Terry Fox who also had the same cancer as she did.[3][4]
Scarff attended Brock University and studied kinesiology.[5]
Career
editScarff began her paracanoe journey after visiting Balmy Beach Canoe Club in 2013, training there under Mari Ellery.[6] In 2014, she took a semester off from her studies at Brock University to train paracanoe in Florida.[5] She placed sixth in the women's KL3 200-metre race at the 2016 Paracanoe World Championships.[7]
Scarff competed in paracanoe at the 2016 Paralympics, the year the sport made is Paralympic debut.[8][9] She place seventh in the women’s KL3 paracanoe sprints at the Games, 2.56 seconds behind the gold medalist.[6] At the 2017 Canoe Sprint World Cup, Scarff won bronze in the women's KL3 200-metre.[10] She placed first at the 2018 National Team Selections in the Para K1 women's 200-metre.[11]
In 2021, Scarff began training VL3.[12] In the women’s VL3 200-metre at the 2023 ICF World Canoe and Kayak Sprint Championships, Scarff won silver.[13] She also won three gold medals in sit skiing at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.[14][15]
Scarff will compete for Canada in paracanoe at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[16]
Personal life
editScarff was hit by a car in 2018, resulting in injuries causing setbacks to her paracanoe career,[17] including not qualifying for the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Erica Scarff - ICF Profile". canoeicf.com. 14 May 2020.
- ^ Infantry, Ashante (2009-04-29). "Gymnast surmounting hurdle of losing leg". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "Erica Scarff - Canadian Paralympic Committee". Canadian Paralympic Committee. 14 May 2020.
- ^ "Paralympics Athlete Profile: Erica Scarff". Brock Press. 27 September 2016.
- ^ a b Dakin, Dan (2016-08-12). "Brock Kinesiology student headed to Rio Paralympics". Brock University. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ a b McNeill, Holly (2016-09-16). "With gold in her sights, all Erica Scarff needs is a little time". The Toronto Observer. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ Colpitts, Iain (2016-07-01). "Cancer survivor Erica Scarff of Mississauga is off to Rio Paralympics". Mississauga The News. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ Nelson, Norm (2016-05-26). "Balmy Beach Canoe Club paddler Erica Scarff secures another spot for Canada for Rio 2016 Paralympics". Toronto.com. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ McNeill, Holly (2016-09-15). "Para-canoe makes its debut with a duo of Canadians". The Toronto Observer. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "Canada's Katie Vincent paddles to silver at Canoe Sprint World Cup". CBC. 2017-05-27. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
- ^ "Weekend round-up: Scarff wraps herself in gold". Canadian Paralympic Committee. 2018-06-25. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ a b "New boat revitalizes Erica Scarff's career". Canadian Paralympic Committee. 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "Vincent, MacKenzie win bronze at sprint canoe worlds, clinch Olympic quota spot for Canada". CBC. 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
- ^ "Erica Scarff". Canadian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "2023 Canada Winter Games - PEI". cg2023.gems.pro. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ Pereira, Gene (2024-06-25). "Mississauga's Scarff to compete in 2024 Paris Paralympic Games | INsauga". INsauga | Ontario Local News Network. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "Hennessy and Scarff win silver medals at Para canoe world championships". Canadian Paralympic Committee. 2023-08-25. Retrieved 2024-08-18.