Canada's Joan Reid won a gold today in the ASW1x event - in a time of 06:03.37 over 1000 metres - at the final Paralympic qualifier in Belgrade, Serbia. This gives the Enderby, BC, rower a spot in the 2012 Paralympic Games regatta in London, England, this summer. Her closest competition today (6:25.29) was Sandra Khumalo of South Africa, who also earns a berth. The other female scullers who will compete at the summer Games qualified based on last year's World Championship results. Reid did not attend the Worlds in 2011.
"Joan worked very hard to get here and she showed with this performance that she wanted a spot at the Paralympic Games," said Rowing Canada Aviron para-rowing lead coach, Jeff Dunbrack.
Reid was Canada's only entry at this regatta. Canada will also send an adaptive coxed four to the Paralympics, a boat that took silver at the Worlds last year to qualify for the London Games.