Keely Shaw represented Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games and won Canada’s first medal after achieving bronze in the women’s C4 3,000 metre individual pursuit with a time of 48.342 seconds.
Keely’s parents are from Churchbridge (Toles and Chopty). Her paternal grandmother, Ingrid Toles, was a teacher in Churchbridge. Her maternal grandparents are Mike (deceased) and Alice Chopty who were well known long-term residents of Churchbridge.
Speaking about the experience, Shaw said, “Despite these Games being unlike any we’ve seen before, the entire experience was absolutely unparalleled. It was incredible to see the work the whole team has put in over the last four years finally pay dividends with a podium finish. I can’t wait to see what Paris 2024 has in store for me!”
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games were scheduled between August 24th and September 5th, 2021.
Shaw focused on the individual pursuit on the track, and she also competed in the time trial and road race, both of which are road cycling events.
In 2020 at the World Track Championships in Milton, Ont., she finished fourth, missing the bronze by just 75 milliseconds in the women’s C4 individual pursuit.
At the 2019 World Road Championships in paracycling, Shaw was fourth in the time trial and seventh in the 65-kilometre road race. Earlier in 2019 at the world track championships, she won the silver medal in the individual pursuit.
She became a paracyclist in 2016 after dabbling in several sports after a horse riding accident left her with partial paralysis on her left side at age 15 in 2009. She entered her first road race in 2017. She was invited to a Cycling Canada camp in 2017 and that same year won two medals at the national championships.
In 2018 she entered her first world championships. She was fourth in the individual pursuit at the track worlds and fourth and seventh in the time trial and road race at the road worlds.
She completed her master’s degree at the University of Saskatchewan in Kinesiology in 2019. Her thesis was on the impact of dark chocolate on cycling at high altitudes. She’s pursuing her PhD in kinesiology — exercise physiology and sport nutrition.
Career Highlights
Silver medal at the 2019 World Para Cycling Track Championships. Competed at the 2018 and 2019 World Track Championships and World Road Championships. Saskatchewan’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2019.
Notable International Results
2020 World Track Championships individual pursuit 4th
2019 World Road Championships time trial 4th
2019 World Road Championships road race 7th
2019 World Track Championships individual pursuit 2nd
2018 World Road Championships time trial 4th
2018 World Road Championships road race 8th
2018 World Track Championships individual pursuit 5th
Keely’s Ritual
“The night before a race I have to plan the next 24 hours down to the minute. I do passive and active stretching, and a specific warm-up on my bike. I have an energy drink 45 minutes before I race, and I take my caffeinated gel 15 minutes before.” (Canadian Cycling Magazine, 15 May 2019).