World-class wheelchair racer joins U of T's 2015 honorary degree recipients
Published: April 24, 2015
One of the world's most celebrated paralympic athletes will join the ranks of honorary degree recipients at the University of Toronto's convocation ceremonies this year.
Fourteen-time Paralympic Games gold medalist Chantal Petitclerc takes the stage at the June 12 ceremony, sharing her story of inspiration with students graduating from the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education. (.)
At the age of 13, Petitclerc lost the use of her legs following an accident. In high school she took up swimming to develop her strength and stamina, and fell in love with sport. Four years later, she discovered wheelchair athletics, paving the way for a long and very successful career that took her to five Paralympic Games (Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing).
Petitclerc is the only Canadian athlete to have won gold medals at the Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games. Her record of achievement includes:
- 21 Paralympic medals (including 14 gold medals)
- 3 world records (200m, 400m and 800m)
- 4 Paralympic records (200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m)
- 1 Olympic gold medal (800m demonstration sport)
She is also a companion of the Order of Canada and an ambassador for Right to Play, a global organization that uses sport to educate and empower children and youth.
