Montreal Paralympian wins two gold medals at 2023 Parapan Am Games

Montreal Paralympian Alison Levine emerges as a big winner at the Parapan Am Games in Santiago, Chile, adding two more gold medals to her boccia wall of glory.

Competing in her third Parapan Am Games, the 33-year-old took the title in the women’s BC4 individual tournament, her first-ever individual podium at the Games. Then she teamed up with fellow Montrealer Iulian Ciobanu to win gold in BC4 pairs.

“I had high expectations going into the Santiago Parapan Am games, but I didn’t necessarily expect to come home with two gold medals,” said Levine.

“I’m still living in a whirlwind, crazy, alternate universe right now. You know, parasports and especially boccia, we don’t get a lot of recognition.”

To make Levine’s 2023 Parapan Am Games experience even better, she was made Canada’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony.

“The minute it clicked that I was being asked to be flag bearer, I just, I mean, you see it on my face. I’m like, oh my goodness, and might have led a bad word slip there, but it was just pure genuine reaction of shock,” said Levine.

Levine, who’s living with a degenerative disability says, it was it was her background in sports that gave her the competitive edge.

“I always wanted sport to be in my life because it was kind of a way to take control of my body when my body’s kind of failing me,” said Levine.

As for what’s next, Levine will be heading to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games which will be held from August 28 to September 8.

“Sports are amazing, it’s a community, it’s a lifestyle…Find what you like, and it doesn’t matter your age, it doesn’t matter your physical capacity capabilities, there is something out there for everyone.”