Winter Paralympic Medallists

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Abstract

The map shows the distribution by birthplace (where known) of medallists from the Winter Paralympics. Seventy-three Canadians have earned a total of 142 medals in the Winter Paralympics since the first Games, held in Ornskjoldsvik, Sweden in 1976.

Source: Photgrapher, Benoit Pelosse.

The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games will be held from March 12th to the 21st in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia. It is the first time that Canada will host the Paralympic Games. The following are the sports played in the Paralympic Winter Games:

• alpine skiing
• biathlon
• cross-country skiing
• ice sledge hockey
• wheelchair curling

Canada has 73 all-time winter Paralympic medallists who have collectively earned 142 medals since the first Paralympic Winter Games were held in Ornskjoldsvik, Sweden (1976). Below in Table 1 is the number of medals awarded to individual Canadian paralympians (including the sighted guides of visually-impaired para-skiers who compete as a team).

Of these 73 athletes, only half of them have a birthplace which is known by the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Seven provinces are currently represented by the known birthplaces, they are:

• Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton, Olds)
• British Columbia (New Westminster, Vancouver, Fort St. John, North Vancouver)
• New Brunswick (Chatham)
• Ontario (Sudbury, Collingwood, Renfrew, Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, North York, Kenora, Bracebridge, Ajax, Brockville, Windsor)
• Prince Edward Island (Alberton, Summerside)
• Quebec (Greenfield Park, Saint-Pamphile, Saint-Eustache, Hull, Montréal)
• Saskatchewan (Saskatoon)

In terms of medal counts, Canada ranks 9th overall (out of 28 countries) in all-time winter Paralympics with medals in 100 different events; whereas Norway, Germany and Austria all have over 300 medals and are ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

To obtain more information on our paralympians, visit the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Web site.