Ottawa athletes return from Winter Games rich with silver

By Charlie Pinkerton

Gold proved elusive for all but one of Ottawa’s athletes at the Feb. 15-Mar. 3 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, but they did bring home scores of silver in table tennis.

Ann Shiao won three medals herself, placing 2nd in women’s doubles, women’s team and women’s singles.

She says she was most surprised by her result in the singles division.

“I definitely wasn’t sure what to expect from singles,” indicates the player who was initially ranked 4th and had to claw her way into the medal round with a 7-11, 11-4, 11- 9, 10-12, 11-9 triumph over a B.C. opponent in the quarterfinals.

Sabrina Chen, a fellow product of the local Geng Table Tennis Academy, earned a pair of silver medals as well – in mixed doubles, and alongside Shiao in the women’s team event.

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Overall, Shiao says she was “really happy” to win multiple silver medals, and didn’t feel disappointed about missing gold. Having the opportunity to participate in the opening ceremonies, pep rallies and various team events at the Games made it an overall “great experience” for Shiao.

Michael Raytchev of the Goulbourn Skating Club was Ottawa’s lone champion at the 2019 Canada Games. He won gold in Special Olympics figure skating Level II male singles.

Taking silver medals were Nakkertok Nordic product Pierre Grall-Johnson in the male free sprint cross-country ski event, Team Ontario hockey players Connor Lockhart, Mason McTavish and Brandt Clarke, and ringette players Emma Kelly, Rachael Pelisek, Liza Roik, Paige Miller and Marta Matuszewski.

Earning bronze were GO Capital artistic swimmers Jade Warren and Emma Fox, Beaver Boxing’s Lucas Craston, and Ottawa Pacers speed skater Noah Bouma.