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Winner of 14 Paralympic gold medals in wheelchair racing and a Senator from Quebec, Chantal Petitclerc is one of Canada’s greatest athletes. She even has her own star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. Read on for her amazing story.
Why She’s fearless
Growing up in a small town, Chantal lived a quiet life on her family farm. When she was 13, her idyllic life came to an end when a heavy barn door fell on her, breaking her back.
When Chantal was first injured, she took to time to adjust. At the age of 18 while in high school, one of her physical education teachers recommended she try wheelchair racing, and she was hooked. Even though she placed dead last in her first race (from a homemade racing chair), in that moment she discovered her new love.
Chantal went on to race in competitions throughout Canada. After several regional and national championships under her belt, she competed in her first Paralympics in 1992 in Barcelona. And it was here where she won her first Paralympic medals, two bronze medals – for the 200 m and the second for the 800 m.
Four years later at the Atlanta games, Chantal returned to Paralympics, this time tasting her first gold. She won three silver medals (the 400 m, the 800 m and the 1500 m) and she won her first two gold medals of her career, winning gold in the 100 m and the 200 m.
Chanel went on to compete in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, winning two silver medals and two gold medals (in the 200 m and the 800 m). And in the 2004 Athens Paralympics, she won five more gold medals. Chantal was the best in wheelchair racing for several years.
And the last games she competed in before retiring, the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, she won 5 more gold medals and was awarded the Lou Marsh Trophy as the Canadian Athlete of the Year, as well as Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year that same year for her performance in Beijing. In 2009, after officially retiring, one of the coolest rewards was also bestowed on Chantal – she was given a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.
What’s Next?
After retiring, Chantal became a prolific motivational speaker. She also became a coach, and helped coach British wheelchair racer Shelly Woods in the London 2012 Paralympics. But her life really changed when in 2016, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called her, asking if he could appoint her as Senator of Canada. She accepted and has been a Senator from Quebec since 2016, helping advocate for people with disabilities.
She also had her life change again around the same time, when she decided to have a son in her 40’s. “I was too busy winning medals,” she said to people who asked why she waited. Chantal is truly a woman who lives large, any by her own accord, and we love her for it.
ideas@spinalpedia.com
