Michael Sametz
![]() Michael Sametz in 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | (1996-05-21) May 21, 1996 (age 28) Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | University of Calgary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sport | Track and road cycling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Disability class | C3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Michael Sametz (born on May 21, 1996) is a Canadian road racing para cyclist who competes in the C3 classification. He won a bronze medal for Team Canada at the 2016 Summer Paralympics – Men's road time trial C3.
Early life
Sametz was born on May 21, 1996, in Calgary, Alberta,[1] to mother Ronda.[2] After suffering a stroke in the womb, he was born with right hemiplegic cerebral palsy.[3] While attending Springbank Community High School, Sametz participated in Alberta Schools' Athletic Association sponsored cross country, golf, and badminton.[4] He began cycling at age 12 when he was looking to try a new sport and turned to competitive road and track cycling in 2014.[5] After graduating from high school, Sametz attended the University of Calgary as a business student with the intention of majoring in accounting.[1]
Career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Michael_Sametz_at_the_Longhi_Challenge%2C_para_cycling_time_trial_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Michael_Sametz_at_the_Longhi_Challenge%2C_para_cycling_time_trial_%28cropped%29.jpg)
A year after turning to competitive road and track cycling, Sametz won two gold medals at the Global Relay Canadian 2015 Road Cycling national championships.[6] He subsequently qualified for the 2015 Parapan American Games where he won a silver medal in the men's individual pursuit Cl-3 final.[7] In 2016, at the age of 20, Sametz was named to Team Canada's 2016 Summer Paralympics team.[8] In his Paralympic Games debut as the youngest member of the Canadian para-cycling team, Sametz won a bronze medal in the Road time trial C3.[9] He was subsequently honoured by Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi upon his return.[10]
Following his Paralympic debut, Sametz won a gold medal at the 2017 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships by beating silver medalist Sergey Ustinov in the C3 Track time trial.[11] He returned to the championships the following year and obtained a world championship title in the time trial.[12] Prior to the trial, Sametz chose to use a bigger gear on his bike to gain speed on the descents.[13]
In 2020, Sametz was named to Canada's Paralympic Team prior to the delayed 2020 Summer Paralympics.[14]
References
- ^ a b "Michael Sametz". Paralympics. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Lasting Partnership Proves Successful for Michael Sametz". Canadian Sport Institute. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ McIlroy, Anne (June 9, 2011). "Camp offers real results for infant victims of stroke". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Former ASAA Athletes Take Part in Olympic and Paralympics Games". Alberta Schools' Athletic Association. October 5, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Meet Mike Sametz, National Youth Advisory Panel Member". Child-Brght. October 29, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "Cyclist Sametz at Parapan Ams". Calgary Herald. July 20, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sametz cycles to silver at Parapan Ams". Calgary Herald. August 12, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cycling Canada Nominates 12 Athletes for Selection to Team Canada for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Français". Newswire. June 29, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ Amundson, Quinton (September 15, 2016). "Michael Sametz Flashes His Bright Para-Cycling Potential With Bronze Medal Win". Paralympics. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ Aalgaard, Todd (October 5, 2016). "Michael Sametz among the Calgary athletes honoured by mayor Naheed Nenshi". Cycling Magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "CANADA OPENS PARA-CYCLING WORLD CUP WITH 7 MEDALS". SIRC. May 15, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "FIVE MEDALS FOR CANADA AT PARA ROAD WORLD CUP". Alberta Bicycle. May 8, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "LATE DECISION PAYS OFF FOR SAMETZ AT PARA CYCLING ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS". Paralympics. October 12, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Cycling Canada Announces Early Paralympic Nominations". Canadian Cyclist. September 1, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
External links
- Michael Sametz at the Canadian Paralympic Committee
- Michael Sametz at the International Paralympic Committee