Katarina Roxon, cycling team lead Canada on Day 7 at Rio Paralympic Games

RIO DE JANEIRO — Katarina Roxon finally has a Paralympic Games medal.

The Kippens, N.L., native shed tears of joy after winning gold in the S8 100-metre breaststroke on Wednesday night at the Rio Games. It’s her first medal in three Paralympic appearances.

“It’s been three years coming,” said the 23-year-old Roxon, who finished fifth in this race at London 2012.

“At first I didn’t want to look (at the scoreboard). I knew I was going to be happy with how I did. When I saw first, I was so shocked.”

Roxon, who was born missing her left arm below the elbow, recorded an Americas record time of one minute 19.44 seconds to capture the event. Britain’s Claire Cashmore took silver in 1:20.60 while Ireland’s Ellen Keane was third in 1:23.07.

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Cashmore led after 50 metres but Roxon was able to catch up in the last half of the race.

“Usually I always go out super fast,” said Roxon. “For the last year or so I have been trying to control myself a little bit more.

“My coach told me the girls would be shooting out of a canon. He said just remember to keep your composure, focus on what you have to do, and come back strong.”

It was one of six medals for Canada on Day 7 of competition — the best single-day medal total yet for the Canadians in Rio. Canada is 13th in the overall medal standings with six gold, nine silver and five bronze.

Canada’s para-cycling team earned five medals which was highlighted by a gold from Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, B.C., in the 20 kilometre men’s C2 race.

Edmonton’s Ross Wilson won the silver medal in the men’s C1 while Charles Moreau of Victoriaville, Que., (men’s H3 competition), Michael Sametz of Calgary (men’s C3) and Shelley Gautier of Toronto (women’s T1-T2 category), all took bronze.

“You only get these moments so often in life, and I wanted to have a positive outlook and be in the moment, and not let the anxieties or pressures get to me,” said Chernove. “That really happened today, and that made all the difference.”

In wheelchair rugby, Zak Madell of Okotoks, Alta., scored 38 points to lead the Canadians to a 68-42 win over Brazil in the opening preliminary round game for both teams.

Paddlers Christine Gauthier of Pointe-Claire, Que., and Erica Scarff of Mississauga, Ont., both qualified for Thursday’s finals after strong showings in the morning heats and semis.

Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Que., will also compete in a final on Thursday at the track in the men’s T53 division. Lakatos has a gold and silver so far at the Games. Six-time Paralympian Diane Roy also qualified for the women’s T54 5,000 metres.

Montreal’s Alison Levine advanced to Thursday’s quarter-final in the BC4 individual boccia class following a 6-1 win over Ximei Lin of China in her final preliminary round match.

John McRoberts and Jackie Gay of Victoria are third overall in para-sailing after six of a scheduled 11 races.

In goalball action, both Canadian teams lost in the quarter-finals with the men falling 5-4 to Lithuania in double overtime and the women dropping their matchup against the U.S., 2-0.

The men’s wheelchair basketball team wrapped-up its Games with an 11th place finish after beating Algeria 70-51 in a placement game.

The Canadian Press