Four Canadians eliminated in Boccia at Paralympics including Alison Levine in Quarterfinals
Ottawa, ON (September 1, 2024) – Alison Levine (Montréal, QC), Iulian Ciobanu (Montréal, QC), Danik Allard (Bois-des-Filion, QC) and Lance Cryderman (Val Caron, ON), have been eliminated from individual play at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Levine was the last eliminated, in the quarterfinals to eventual bronze medalist Leidy Chica Chica.
Levine kicked off the quarterfinal match with momentum scoring a point in each of the first two ends. Tied at two apiece, it came down to the last end, when Chica Chica’s last ball allowed her to score the one extra point than Levine. Boccia, a game of inches, quite literally ended on the last throw by Columbia’s Chica Chica. A throw that could have gone in Levine’s favour with both balls hovering around the jack. The closeness of the match comes as no surprise when world number one (Chica Chica) and number two (Levine) meet. With the win, Chica Chica extracts a little revenge for a loss to Levine in the final of the Para Pan American Games last November.
Levine was happy to have made it this far in the competition, after incredible, consistent success over the course of a decade at international events. “Even though I lost in the quarters I’m proud of what I did… What I focused on was what I had to do. My game plan, my performance, the way I carried myself on court… I have zero regrets. I don’t want to take for granted the ability to be here, at the Paralympics. You must earn it to get here.”
Levine has certainly earned her status amongst the elite in the game. She is a three-time Paralympian. Prior to the Tokyo Paralympics, when men and women competed in a mixed BC4 class, she had risen to world number one.
Ciobanu, despite winning two of three games, did not advance to the quarters due to points for/against differential that favoured his pool competitors. Ciobanu was in full control throughout his final pool match, winning 4-2 against world number three from Great Britain, Stephen McGuire, who plays for gold tomorrow.
Also representing Canada was BC2 athlete Allard and BC1 athlete Cryderman who lost each of their matches in individual play. Both are two-time Paralympians after Paris. Cryderman came back to the sport in 2017, after amazingly representing Canada in 2000 at the Sydney Paralympic Games, while Allard is only twenty-three years old and has shown his potential on the international stage.
The focus now for Ciobanu and Levine turns to BC4 Paris competition that starts on Tuesday: “We’re both fired up. We’re both hungry. We’re just going to give it our all.,” said Levine. They enter the Pairs competition as number two in the world and will be competing versus China at 4:30 AM EST and Croatia at 12:50 EST in Pool B with the top two in each pool advancing to the quarters. Watch boccia online via the CBC Gem Channel on the webcast court 3 and 8. Find the schedule here.
About Boccia Canada
Boccia Canada is the boccia delivery arm of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA), the National Sport Organization for the Paralympic sport of boccia. Boccia Canada is focused on providing athletes and individuals of all ages and skill with the chance to play a unique Paralympic sport. We lead, develop and grow boccia from grassroots to producing World Champions, and we collaborate with partners to increase participation of Canadians with physical disabilities in sport.
About boccia
Boccia is a Paralympic sport of precision and strategy similar to lawn bowling or curling, played by athletes with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy and related disabilities. It is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart. Athletes compete in one of six sport classes based on their level and type of disability: BC1, BC2, BC3 BC4, BC5, and Open.
Media Contact
Holly Janna
Communications Lead and National Team Coordinator, Boccia Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 613-748-1430 x3 | Cell: 514-944-5193