Canada's Ruth Sylvie Morel not done with wheelchair fencing after Paralympic finale

Canada's "grande dame" of wheelchair fencing wants more for her sport.

Ruth Sylvie Morel may have fenced her last Paralympic bout Tuesday in Paris, but the 68-year-old from Pincourt, Que., isn't done agitating to increase her sport's visibility.

Morel, known as Sylvie, represented Canada when wheelchair fencing made its Paralympic debut in Sydney, Australia in 2000. She competed in her fourth Games on Tuesday.

"Motivation, ambition, ego and plus, genetically, I'm lucky," was Morel's recipe for longevity in the sport.

"I don't feel my age, although now I'm lying because I got up this morning and the whole body aches.

Morel is the oldest athlete on the Canadian team in Paris as well as the oldest competitor in women's fencing.

She lost her sabre bout 15-1 to 2017 world champion Nataliia Morkvych, who is 32 years old.

"I took on the world champion Ukrainian girl and she basically gave me a free lesson," Morel said. "She was kind enough for me to get her at least once."

The sport is faster and more countries are involved than a quarter-century ago, she said. In Sydney, Morel fenced in a gym. On Tuesday, she fenced in the Grand Palais.

"I wish all my competitions were like that," Morel said.

Morel isn't happy with the treatment of wheelchair fencing in Canada.

"Nothing is happening. Nobody is doing anything to develop wheelchair fencing and that kind of upsets me because that's my baby," she stated.

She ran a wheelchair fencing school for 15 years and currently coaches athletes.

Morel's teammate Trinity Lowthian of Ottawa was eliminated 15-14 by Brazil's Monica Santos in a first-round repechage match Tuesday.

The 22-year-old rarely competes in sabre and looked forward to her preferred weapon in Friday's epee.

"Really, today,