Chantal Petitclerc

Keynote Address 4
Attitude, passion, determination – Sometimes bad luck turns into good opportunities
Tuesday, September 11
09:00 – 10:00
Room 517a/b

Along the way, Chantal has learnt a thing or two about making what life gives us into a new opportunity.

At the age of 13, she lost the use of her legs following an accident. Convincing her to take up swimming in order to develop her strength and stamina, her high school physical education teacher would have a decisive impact on her life. For Chantal, that was her first contact with sport and training. Four years later, she would discover wheelchair athletics, paving the way for a long and very successful career which would take her to the Barcelona Games in 1992, and ultimately, to the Beijing Games in 2008.

Chantal Petitclerc returned from the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games with 5 gold medals, 2 new world records and 1 new Paralympic record, making her the most celebrated track athlete in history as well as the only Canadian athlete to have won gold medals at the Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games.

While the Beijing Games would be the last time she would be participating in track competitions, Chantal Petitclerc nevertheless continues to train.  Also she is to join the ParalympicsGB athletics team as a coach and mentor for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Chantal Petitclerc is a highly sought after speaker, and shares her story with dozens of groups each year, both throughout Canada and abroad. She participates in projects by various Paralympic athletics and sports organizations, in addition to working as an ambassador for the international Right to Play organization.