Ruth Sylvie Morel (born September 2, 1956)[1] is a Canadian Paralympic wheelchair fencer.

Sylvie Morel
Personal information
Birth nameRuth Sylvie Morel
Born (1956-09-02) September 2, 1956 (age 68)
Home townPincourt, Quebec, Canada
Sport
SportWheelchair fencing
Disability classA

Career

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At the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, Morel was the first Canadian to compete in Paralympic-level wheelchair fencing. She placed 10th in épée and 11th in foil.[2] She qualified for the 2004 Summer Paralympics but was not selected by Canada to compete.[3]

At the 2011 International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Wheelchair Fencing Americas Championships, Morel won gold in women's A épée, which qualified her for the 2012 Summer Paralympics.[4] At the 2012 Paralympic games, she placed 12th in épée.[2]

Morel won gold in women's A épée and silver in women's A foil at the 2015 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Americas Championships.[4] She missed out on qualifying for the 2016 Summer Paralympics by four points.[5] At the 2018 North American Cup in Milwaukee, Morel won gold in women's sabre and bronze in women's foil.[6]

Morel was the oldest Canadian Paralympian to compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games.[3][2] She placed 14th in sabre, her Paralympic sabre debut,[5] and 15th in foil.

At the 2022 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Americas Championships, Morel won gold in the women's sabre category A.[7] At the 2023 IWAS Pan Am championships, Morel, on a team with Amber Briar and Trinity Lowthian, won bronze in the women's épée team event.[8] At the 2024 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Americas Championships, Briar, Lowthian, and Morel again won bronze in the women's épée team event.[9]

Going into the 2024 Summer Paralympics, Morel was ranked 21st in the women's category A sabre.[10] She has said the 2024 Paralympics will be her last.[10]

Personal life

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After a car accident in 1993, Morel had her right leg amputated below the knee.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Sylvie Morel". Canadian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  2. ^ a b c Klinkenberg, Marty (2021-08-27). "For Paralympians, age is not an important number". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  3. ^ a b c Dichter, Miles (2021-08-26). "At 64, Canada's oldest Paralympian is still reinventing herself — and she's not done yet". CBC. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  4. ^ a b "Ruth Sylvie Morel Wins Gold and Silver in Wheelchair Fencing Americas Championship". Canadian Fencing Federation. 2016-06-27. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  5. ^ a b "The Suburban wishes best of luck to our hometown Paralympians". The Suburban. 2021-08-21. pp. A38. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  6. ^ "Canadian Fencers Win Six Medals at the October North American Cup (NAC)". The Sport Information Resource Centre. 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  7. ^ "Canada take double gold at wheelchair fencing Americas Championships". Wheelchair Fencing. 2022-10-23. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  8. ^ "Amazing results at the IWAS World and Pan Am Championships in Brazil". Ontario Fencing Association. 2022-10-28. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  9. ^ "Golden Guissone: Brazilian star picks up first major sabre title". Wheelchair Fencing. 2022-10-22. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  10. ^ a b Daignault, Louis (2024-07-12). "Three wheelchair fencers nominated to Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team". Canadian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2024-07-31.