November 11 (Ottawa, ON) – Paralympic wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc became the first female Paralympian inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame last night. An incredibly accomplished athlete, Ms. Petitclerc has attended five Paralympic Games and returned from the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games with 5 gold medals, 2 new world records and 1 new Paralympic record, making her the most decorated female track athlete in history as well as the only Canadian athlete to have won gold medals at the Olympics, Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games. In total, Ms. Petitclerc holds 21 Paralympic medals, four world records, five Paralympic records, and an Olympic gold medal.
Ms. Petitclerc has received a great deal of awards and recognition over the years including the International Paralympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year. She has been appointed Companion of the Order of Canada, and received a Star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. Ms. Petitclerc also recently released a book 16 days in Beijing. On October 23, Ms. Petitclerc became a new member for the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Board of Directors.
“On behalf of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, I want to congratulate Ms. Petitclerc for making history yet again by becoming the first female Paralympian inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame,” said David Legg, President for the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “This is a well-deserved honour and the Canadian Paralympic Committee is very privileged to have Ms. Petitclerc as a part of our Board. I look forward to continuing to work with her to advance the Paralympic Movement in the future.”
