At the 2024 Paralympic Games (Aug. 26-Sept. 8 in Paris), dozens of amazing athletes will compete for gold as members of Team Canada. For many of them, the Paris games will mark the first time they compete in the Olympics. Here’s a look at the standout athletes chasing Olympic glory while also completing degrees at Canadian universities.
À lire aussi: En savoir plus sur les athlètes universitaires francophones
Brieann Baldock, @brieann1278
Sport: Goalball
Education: Completing a degree in elementary education at Athabasca University.
Fun fact: Brieann first fell in love with Goalball at 16, when she attended an event hosted by the Alberta Sports and Recreation Association for the Blind.
Highlight: Brieann was an asset in helping Canada secure gold at the Pan Am Goalball Championships in 2017, which lead Canada to qualify for the 2018 World Championships.
Charlotte Bolton, @cboltonthrows
Sport: Para Athletics
Education: Studying biology at York University.
Fun fact: Charlotte holds three Canadian records in the F41 throwing division (Shot Put 9.05 metres, Javelin 20.33 metres, Discus 29.65 metres)
Highlight: In 2023, Charlotte secured her first major international medal, winning bronze in the Women’s Discus Throw F41 division at the Santiago Parapan American Games.
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Katie Cosgriffe, @katiecosgriffe
Sport: Para Athletics
Education: Studying biology at York University.
Fun fact: Since the age of nine, Katie has participated in competitive swimming. Following her diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in 2021, Katie transitioned to Para swimming where she now actively competes in the S10 swimming classification.
Highlight: Despite being the youngest on the team, Katie earned the title of Canada’s 2023 Breakout Para Swimmer after her stunning efforts in the Manchester 2023 Para Swimming World Championships.
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Joel Ewert, @joelj_ewert
Sport: Wheelchair Rugby
Education: Enrolled in the northern medical program at The University of British Columbia.
Fun fact: Outside of wheelchair rugby, Joel’s career is also highlighted by his participation in wheelchair basketball, where he was recognized for his role on Team BC at three different Canadian Winter Games.
Highlight: As a member of Team Canada, Joel played a significant role in not only winning silver, but also in securing a spot for the team at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
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Arianna Hunsicker, @arianna.hunsicker
Sport: Para Swimming
Education: Completing a commerce degree at Concordia University.
Fun fact: Since she began competing in 2017, Arianna has gained considerable recognition for her achievements in the international division.
Highlight: Arianna made a remarkable debut at the 2019 Parapan American Games when she secured five bronze medals in the 50m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m individual medley and the women’s 4x100m medley.
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Puisand Lai, @pppuisand
Sport: Wheelchair Basketball
Education: Completing a degree in mechanical engineering at McMaster University.
Fun fact: Throughout her athletic career, Puisand has participated in numerous different sports, including: wheelchair tennis, para ice hockey, adaptive sailing and wheelchair basketball.
Highlight: In 2017, Puisand was recognized as number 7 in the ‘International Tennis Federation World Rankings for girl’s wheelchair tennis’ and only a year later was nominated to the Canadian roaster for the Wheelchair Basketball World Championships.
Katie Pegg, @katie.pegg19
Sport: Para Athletics
Education: Currently studying biology and forensic sciences at Saint Mary’s University.
Fun fact: For eight years, Katie took up a career in football where she was the only female athlete of a Scarborough high school team.
Highlight: Katie qualified for the 2024 Paris Paralympics when she obtained the top score in the F46 shotput division at the Canadian Track and Field Trials.
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Heidi Peters, @heidipeters__
Sport: Sitting Volleyball
Education: Studying political science at MacEwan University.
Fun fact: Heidi was first introduced to sitting volleyball following the recovery of her leg amputation at the Edmonton Children`s Hospital.
Highlight: In 2020, Heidi played an essential role in securing a spot for Canada at the upcoming Paralympic Games in Tokyo. With her aid, Team Canada secured gold at the World Para-Volley Paralympic qualifiers.
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Ryan Rousell, @ryanrousell
Sport: Wheelchair Fencing
Education: Completing a degree in computer engineering at the University of Saskatchewan.
Fun fact: It was in 2018 that Ryan went on to secure his first World Cup gold medal, which he later complimented with a bronze at the U23 Worlds.
Highlight: Ryan’s career is highlighted by his numerous achievements, including his outstanding performance at the 2022 Americas Championships, where he secured two gold medals.
Tess Routliffe, @tessroutliffe
Sport: Para Swimming
Education: Studying communications and human relations at Concordia University.
Fun fact: At her first Paralympic games in 2016, Tess secured a silver medal in the 200m individual medley, achieved in Canadian record time.
Highlight: Tess made her international debut at the 2015 Parapan American Games when she won four gold medals in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 100m breaststroke, including a silver in the 200m individual medley division.
Jacob Wassermann, @jacob_wassermann
Sport: Para Rowing
Education: Completing a degree in education at the University of Saskatchewan.
Fun fact: Jacob is one of the 13 survivors of the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018, which unfortunately left him paralyzed from the waist down. He did not let this stop him from pursuing other forms of sports, such as Para ice hockey and adaptive water skiing.
Highlight: Following his discovery of the sport in 2022, Jacobs quick progress led him to win a gold medal at the 2023 Canadian Para Rowing Championships and silver medal at the 2024 World Rowing Americas Paralympic Qualification Regatta.
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