Chelsey Gotell of Antigonish, N.S., left, Montreal's Valerie Grand'Maison, centre, and Kirby Cote completed two podium sweeps in Beijing. (Mike Ridewood/Canadian Press)

When Donovan Tildesley was named flag-bearer just prior to the start of the Beijing Paralympics, the Vancouver swimmer was asked if Canada could equal or surpass its performance from the last two Games.

The team finished third in the medal standings in both Sydney and Athens, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee was hoping for a top-five finish in Beijing.

"We're focused on the process … rather than the overall outcome," Tildesley told CBCSports.ca while refusing to predict how Canada would fare. "I'm not going out there and say I want to win this many medals because I find that sets me up for too much pressure and oftentimes for failure."

Canada didn't come close to a top-five placing, but its performance in Beijing could hardly be classified as disappointing. The 143-member team won a total of 50 medals — 19 gold, 10 silver and 21 bronze — which was good enough for 10th place overall.

Leading the way was Montreal's Chantal Petitclerc, whose brilliance on the track was evident from her first event. Competing in her fifth and final Paralympic Games, Petitclerc won five gold medals and set three world records as she swept all of her events.

Petitclerc's performance matched the five victories she earned in Athens four years ago.

The 38-year-old wheelchair athlete, a winner of 21 career medals including 14 gold, hasn't lost in 10 consecutive Paralympic races.

"I know I have worked really hard for it," she said. "Nobody gave it to me. It was not easy. I feel very happy and really proud. I was able to use everything I have inside to make it happen."

Grand'Maison makes sparkling debut

Petitclerc's replacement as Canada's star Paralympian may have already been found in the form of another Montreal athlete. Swimmer Valérie Grand'Maison made a lasting impression in Beijing, winning six medals, three of them gold.

Grand'Maison, 19, broke two world records and began the Paralympics leading a Canadian sweep in the women's 100-metre butterfly for the S13 visually impaired with teammates Kirby Côté of Winnipeg and Chelsey Gotell of Antigonish, N.S.

Four days later, the three Canadians swept the podium in the 200 event as Gotell won her first of a pair of gold medals.

"I'm speechless, and so happy," Grand'Maison said of her Paralympic debut. "This is a dream come true for me. Every single morning, I have thought about his moment, and it has finally come true."

Among the great Canadian performers:

• Chelsey Gotell, Antigonish, N.S. Swimming: two gold, one silver, two bronze.
• Dean Bergeron, St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Que. Track: two gold, one bronze.
• Michelle Stilwell, Nanoose Bay, B.C. Track: two gold.
• Stephanie Dixon, Victoria. Swimming: one gold, two silver, one bronze.
• Lauren Barwick, Langley, B.C. Equestrian: one gold, one silver.
• Kirby Cote, Winnipeg. Swimming: two silver.
• Diane Roy, Hatley, Que. Track: one silver, two bronze.
• Benoit Huot, Montreal. Swimming: four bronze.

Heartbreak for some Canadians

Of course, some Canadian athletes experienced heartbreak along the way.

Diane Roy thought she had won gold in the women's 5,000 T54 competition, but the International Paralympic Committee overturned the result after half the field was involved in a major crash and an official ran onto the track.

The race was rescheduled four days later and American Amanda McGrory edged Roy by one-100th of a second to deny the 37-year-old a gold medal.

Roy tried to put a positive spin on her silver-medal effort but was clearly irked by the IPC's decision to rerun the race.

"I will not forget I won a gold," she said. "I have to keep it in my mind I did it. Now it's a silver and I have to be happy about this medal."

Aussies stun our wheelchair basketball team

Members of the Canadian men's wheelchair basketball team were also anticipating another great run in Beijing and the expectations were justified.

The team had been dominant over the last eight years, winning gold in Sydney and Athens, and were the defending world champions.

Canada appeared headed for a third Paralympic title after winning all seven of its games in Beijing, highlighted by a dramatic 69-62 semifinal victory against the U.S. But the players came out flat in the final, falling 70-62 to Australia.

The upset loss was new to several players, including team leader Patrick Anderson of Vancouver.

"I've never won a silver medal or lost the gold," said Anderson. "It's weird losing the last game of the tournament. This team has had a really good run.

"The Aussies have been there and been close and knocking on the door for a long time. Maybe it was a matter of time before they had their due."

No last medal for Adams

And then there's wheelchair athlete Jeff Adams, who returned to the Paralympics after successfully fighting a two-year drug suspension. The veteran Toronto competitor, a former two-time Paralympic gold medallist, was hoping to find redemption in the men's 1500 T54 race.

Unfortunately, Adams, 37, was disqualified in the opening heats after being involved in a crash.

"He was pretty disappointed," said Canadian media attaché Gabrielle Payette. "He said he didn't feel he had caused the crash. He said he was pushed from behind and lost control."

With files from the Canadian Press