USask kinesiology graduate student picked for Paralympics

The College of Kinesiology PhD candidate was one of nine racers named on July 7 to Canada’s Para cycling team, with Shaw slated to compete in the C4 class at the Tokyo Games. Shaw, who is from Midale, Sask., has been a national team member for four years and earned a silver medal at her first Para-cycling world championships in 2019 in the Netherlands. Shaw, who was named Saskatchewan’s female athlete of the year in 2019, is scheduled to race from Aug. 25 to Sept. 3 in Tokyo.

Shaw earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at USask, and is currently pursuing her PhD in exercise physiology and sports nutrition. She recently took part in a study led by kinesiology researchers published Nov. 3, 2020 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, which determined that exercise performance and blood and muscle oxygen levels for healthy individuals are not affected by wearing a mask during workouts.

That study was led by co-author Dr. Phil Chilibeck (PhD) along with Dr. Gordon Zello (PhD) of the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Dr. Scotty Butcher (PhD) from the School of Rehabilitation Science, and kinesiology alumnus John Ko.

Former USask Huskie student-athlete Jennifer Brown is a candidate to be named to Canada’s Paralympic track and field team, which will be officially announced July 22.

Brown was the F38 discus champion at the Canadian track and field trials on June 27 in Montreal with a throw of 28.49 metres, which met one of the key standards to make the Paralympic team.