Podcasts about Parapan American Games

“ That's how I learn life. I look at it, I visualize myself doing it, and then I execute. And if it doesn't feel right, I can feel it. I can see it, almost like a third person's view. That's the way I've approached life; that's the way I've been able to really reel in on what I'm good at and what I'm not good at.”   Ryan Medrano has faced his share of challenges—he was born with mild cerebral palsy, which caused motor and cognitive delays, and was often bullied as a child because of it. But as he learned to walk and read social signals, he gained knowledge about himself and the world that would eventually allow him to excel in sports and life.   He met previous podcast guest Noelle Lambert when both were cast members on season 43 of Survivor. Noelle—who was already competing in para track & field —convinced Ryan he, too, should return to the sport (he'd run in high school) at the elite level. And within two years, he'd won a silver medal at World Championships, gold at the ParaPan American Games, and two silvers, in the T38 100 meters and 400 meters, at the Paralympics in Paris.   All that success came despite frequently competing in pain related to his disability—his mental game, including his use of imagery and self-talk, has long been incredibly strong. But as his athletic career continues, he's learning more about his body and what it needs to recover well and feel good. And along the way, he shares his passion with the next generation through his work as a motivational speaker.   Resources/links: Ryan's Instagram, TikTok Episode 145 with Noelle Lambert    A huge thank you to LEVER Movement, the exclusive sponsor of season 8 of The Injured Athletes Club podcast! The LEVER system is an innovative way to reduce your body weight, and the impact on your joints, while exercising on a treadmill. Use the code “TIAC20” to get 20% off your purchase.    You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show.   To access more resources for injured athletes: Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook! Buy Injured Athletes Club merchandise, including hoodies, stickers, patches, journals, mugs, hats, and gift cards Access webinar videos, mental rehab e-courses, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback   DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.  

A little more than a decade after getting blown up by an IED during the War in Afghanistan, this Army sharpshooter competed in his second Paralympics. Back from Paris, he joined us on the "Run the Race" podcast to tell his inspiring story and with some wisdom on resilience. (3:31) SSG Kevin Nguyen first tells us about his combat injury as a 20-year-old soldiers...making the decision for doctors to amputate and (15:11) what it's like being an amputee...facing fitness challenges to be able to stay in the Army...(23:25) how he ended up being a competitive shooter, competing at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympics, what it was like at both...how training goes for shooting against the best...(40:04) how his 13-year Army career prepared him for the Paralympics, physically and mentally after facing a depressive crisis a decade earlier...representing USA and also winning gold at the Parapan American Games...and why he's trading in his competition jacket for a chance to help future warfighters. Thanks for listening to the #RunTheRace podcast, which I hope you'll subscribe to! Share it with your friends. Also, write a quick review about it, on Apple podcasts. For more info and listen to any previous episodes, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

Welcome Dana Mathewson, wheelchair tennis Paralympic Athlete In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia, host Alycia Anderson sits down with Dana Mathewson, a two-time Paralympic athlete who is currently preparing for the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Dana shares her incredible journey from being diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis at age 10 to becoming the top-ranked American woman in wheelchair tennis. With multiple titles, including a Wimbledon Championship and two gold medals from the Parapan American Games,  Dana shares how she discovered wheelchair tennis at age 13, the significant role her mother played in her life, and how her competitive spirit fueled her rise to the top of the sport. She also delves into the impact of para sports on changing societal perceptions of disability and her ambitions as she gears up to represent the United States in Paris. Key Moments: Dana's Diagnosis and Early Challenges: Dana opens up about her sudden diagnosis with transverse myelitis at the age of 10 and the impact it had on her life and self-identity as a young athlete. Discovering Wheelchair Tennis: Dana shares how she found wheelchair tennis at age 13, thanks to her mom's encouragement, and the immediate connection she felt with the sport. Role Models in Adaptive Sports: Dana discusses the powerful influence of athletes like Karen Korb and Sharon Clark, who helped shape her belief in her own potential.. Looking Ahead to Paris 2024: Dana shares her focus and preparation for the upcoming Paris Paralympics and her continued commitment to growing the next generation of adaptive athletes. Quote: "Chase butterflies, because good things usually happen from them." - Dana Mathewson Moments: 0:00 - Introduction and Today's Guest 0:30 - Dana's Journey with Transverse Myelitis 3:15 - Discovering Wheelchair Tennis 6:45 - The Role of Family Support 10:20 - Competitive Drive and Achievements 14:05 - Winning the Parapan American Games 18:30 - The Power of Para Sports 21:45 - Looking Ahead to Paris 2024 26:10 - Dana's Pushing Forward Moment 28:00 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Follow Dana Mathewson: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website Connect with Alycia: Instagram | LinkedIn | Book Alycia for Speaking | Book Alycia to Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism | Alycia's DEI Micro Learning Video Series | Feedback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week our guest is 2016 and 2024 Canadian Paralympian, Nathan Clement Nathan Clement has been an athlete his whole life. After a stroke caused by chicken pox at the age of 2 that caused him to lose mobility on one side of his body, Nathan entered sports as a way to help him regain some control over his left side. With parents and siblings who were all athletes, it was only natural that he would be drawn to competition himself. Nathan has competed on the world stage in two para sports, swimming and cycling, and is the 2023 Parapan American Games and World Champion in cycling. He has also studied broadcast and online journalism and is a writer and editor for Evergreen Productions. Exchange Quotes: “Challenge yourself, go for it whatever ‘it' may be; we are much more powerful and capable than we will ever know.” – Amy Purdy “By doing what you love, you inspire and awaken the hearts of others.” – Satsuki Shibuya Exchange Links: Follow Nathan on Instagram @nathanclement11 Follow @epicexchanges on Facebook and Instagram www.kellysniderauthor.com

Paralympian Samantha Bosco joins us today to discuss her story as a Paralympic track and road cyclist. Samantha won two bronze medals at the Rio Paralympics, in the C5 3km pursuit on the track and the C5 time trial on the road (C5 riders include those with movement affected at a low level in one arm, moderately affected in one leg, or the absence of all, or part of an arm).   Samantha had planned to compete in her second Paralympics at Tokyo 2020, but a month prior to the start of those Games, she crashed in a training ride, causing severe injuries including a skull fracture and brain contusion.   We talked with Samantha about her accident and her recovery--after a lot of work and therapy, Samantha returned to bike racing and has been a force to be reckoned with on the para cycling circuit, adding many wins to her resume, including three medals at the 2023 Parapan American Games. She is looking forward to competing at the Paralympics in Paris later this year.   Learn more about Samantha at her website, and follow her on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.   Plus, news from Paris 2024 and TKFLASTAN -- so many of our past guests were at Olympic and Paralympic Trials this week! And Team Australia has its own Paris 2024 song.   Don't forget to register for our fabulous giveaway and the chance to win some Olympic and Paralympic swag! Register here by July 15   For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.   Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!   *** Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. Also look for our monthly Games History Moment episodes in your feed.   Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod   Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod Newsletter: Sign up at https://mailchi.mp/ee507102fbf7/flamealivepod VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348          

Zack Shattuck discovered swimming in 2015, but didn't start swimming competitively until college, where he swam for four years at Frostburg State University. The Mount Airy, Maryland native went on to compete at the 2020 Paralympics and recently earned a silver and bronze at the Parapan American Games in Chile. In addition to competing personally, he is also coaching.

Army Staff Sergeant Michael Kacer was injured as a result of a mortar attack in Afghanistan on June 18, 2008. In 2017, he started competing in Taekwondo, to help improve his mental health and confidence. He won a silver medal at the 2017 Pan Am Invitational and recently represented the United States at the Parapan American Games in Chile.

Sarah Bofinger began swimming before she could walk. At age six, she joined the Frederick Area Swim Team in Frederick, Maryland. She was born with hip dysplasia and had her first surgery at 4 months old. She's since had a total of seven hip surgeries. Sarah recently represented Team USA at the Parapan American Games in Chile.

David Horvath, who was born with spina bifida, discovered the sport of powerlifting through a gym class in high school and realized that it was the sport for him. He would then learn about DASA, a Move United member organization based in the St. Louis area, which helped him improve his skills. In 2021, he joined the U.S. national team and has competed in some Move United sanctioned competitions. Most recently, he represented Team USA at the Parapan American Games in Chile and has a goal of competing in the Paralympics.

After returning from the Parapan American Games with 4 medals, Beatriz Hatz joins the Power Motion Picnic Hour as Special Guest. The podcast considers the idea of sponsoring a runner and Tom Bosworth reports a new mile time.

Guest Host: Maura Carabello A girl from Olympus Jr. High School in Utah has recently won big at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago Chile. At just 13 years old, Chloe Cederholm won both bronze and silver medals. Chloe started swimming at 4 years old and was diagnosed later with a rare disorder that makes sports difficult. Chloe joins to share her inspiring story. 

Canada took home 52 medals at the Parapan American Games. Gold medalist Alison Levine reflects on her experience. And considers the road to Paris for the 2024 Paralympics. From the December 4, 2023, episode.

Today on NOW with Dave Brown: gold medalist Alison Levine reflects on her experience at the Parapan American Games! Shelley Petit offers insight into how schools can make their grounds inclusive to students. Plus, Michelle McQuigge discusses the Canadian Medical Association's push for a governmental role that considers the impact of climate change on human health. This is the December 4, 2023, episode.

The Parapan American games are reaching their final stretch as we head into the last weekend. Brock Richardson catches us up on the latest in our Sports Update.

The 2023 Parapan American Games are currently underway in Santiago, Chile. Gold medalist Nathan Clement is on the grounds with an update. From the November 23, 2023.

Today on NOW with Dave Brown: Gold medalist Nathan Clement gives an update on the Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Andrika De Lanerolle previews an exclusive interview with the actors from “All the Light We Cannot See.” And Dawn Dickinson discusses the rise in rent strikes in Toronto. This is the November 23, 2023.

Desiree Isaac-Pictou started playing wheelchair basketball in 2021, the year after a devastating accident at a motorsport event near Bathurst.

Our great state is made up of amazing people who bring many talents to our communities. Today we speak with a great local businessman who has a unique opportunity to represent Michigan in an upcoming event. Joining Chris is the Co-Founder and Visionary of Good Fruit Video, Justin Caine!

Remember the last time the US won a World Cup title? It was on the women's side of course (go figure!). Down 1-0 at halftime, but clawing back and getting it done 4-2 in a thrilling session of overtime against a formidable Australian side. No?! You don't remember? Oh, right! You're probably thinking of 2019, when the USWNT won in France. Well guess what? That wasn't the last time the US won a World Cup title, and we're here to talk about it! In this episode, Colin chats with fellow footy traveler (and World Cup Champion!) Rebecca Ostrander about US Soccer's Extended National Teams (ENTs), the US Women's CP National Team's 2022 IFCPF World Cup Championship, and what it means to support 'soccer for everybody' in the great United States.  Foot(y)notes: Learn more about US Soccer's Extended National Teams. ...and read more about the Women's CP National Team's 2022 World Cup victory. Support the Extended National Teams with a donation. Be sure to select 'Para 7-a-side' under the 'National Team preference' menu on the second page. ...and follow all nine of them on the Extended National Teams' Instagram page. Upcoming schedule for US Soccer ENTs: Sept 20 - Oct 8 | 2023 Deaf World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Oct 15 - 20 | 2023 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup in Sydney, Australia Nov 17 - 26 | 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile

Justin Phongsavanh made his international debut for the United States at the 2019 Parapan American Games, where he won a gold medal in javelin. He represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, winning a bronze medal. In June 2021, during the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials for Track and Field, Justin set the javelin throw world record with a distance of 33.29 meters and is aiming for gold in Paris 2024.

This week we welcome Charles Brown, two-term President of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).  From a very young age, Brown knew he wanted to serve his nation and had a calling to work with military aircraft. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1985 and was trained in aviation ordinance. In 1986, Brown sustained a spinal cord injury as a result of a diving accident while serving in Cherry Point, NC.  During his initial rehabilitation at the Department of Veterans Affairs' Spinal Cord Injury center in Augusta, GA, he was introduced to PVA and became a member of the Southeastern Chapter.  PVA is a congressionally chartered veterans service organization founded in 1946.  They have developed a unique expertise on a wide variety of issues involving the special needs of their members – veterans of the armed forces who have experienced spinal cord injuries and dysfunction.  “PVA helped me through the process of filing for benefits,” Brown says. “They gave me ideas for accessible bathrooms and entrances to my house. They have offered me sporting opportunities I never would have thought about.”  In 1987, he moved back to his native Missouri. Wanting to give back to the organization who had given so much to him, Brown served on the Gateway Chapter board in a multitude of capacities, including as Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator, advocacy director, treasurer, and vice president. While in St. Louis, Brown helped establish the Rolling Rams quad rugby team.  He recalls recruiting players by making phone calls to rehab facilities, and even talking to people in wheelchairs at the mall. The team really took off when a couple of recreational therapists got involved and brought athletes with them.  Brown believes in helping his fellow Veterans improve their quality of life and is passionate about continuing to help PVA improve the accessibility of our nation.  Currently on the USA Boccia team, Brown was selected team captain for the Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Ranked 63rd in the world after one international tournament, he fully believes that an active life has kept him healthy. Get ready to be inspired with this week's interview!For more information about PVA go to https://pva.org.Support the show and get your Bulletproof Veteran apparel at https://amzn.to/3BA3dx9 or see all the available shirts at http://bulletproofveteran.com/apparel.

What does it truly take to defy the odds and achieve greatness? Join us as we sit down with multi-sport Paralympian Chris Daw, whose incredible journey is a testament to the power of determination and resilience. With over 1,000 medals for Canada, 125 national championships, 64 world championships, and participation in four Paralympic Games and one Olympic Games, Chris serves as an inspiration for us all.Chris shares his extraordinary journey from Strathroy, Ontario to Victoria, BC, where he began his athletic career in wheelchair racing, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair curling over four Paralympic Games appearances. He was also on Canada's sitting volleyball team at the 2007 Parapan American Games in Rio and dabbled in just about every conceivable Para sport available at the time.We discuss Chris's gold medal debut in Stoke Mandeville, England and his participation in various sports, from volleyball and hockey to rock climbing and jujitsu. His motto, "Fear Not the Game," is a powerful reminder to follow our passions and chase our dreams, no matter the obstacles.In this heartfelt conversation, we delve into Chris's early years and the unwavering support of his parents that helped set him up for success. We also explore the extreme challenges of being a multi-sport Paralympian and Chris's surprising favourite sport: wheelchair rugby. So, don't miss this incredible opportunity to learn from one of Canada's greatest athletes, and perhaps find motivation to overcome adversity and reach new heights in your own life.Get Your Root'd here: https://rootd.com/ Use the Code "AP20" for 20% Off! Check out our Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Tiktok

In today's edition of The Neutral Zone, we're delighted to welcome Karolina Wisniewska and Josh Vander Vies. They've been honoured as Canada's co-Chefs de Mission for the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, as well as the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Josh was once a Boccia player for Canada, while Karolina was a former Paralympic Alpine skier. Additionally, we'll share our insights on the interview and provide you with a few key points from mainstream sports.

Arianna Hunsicker has already won 5 Bronze medals for Team Canada in Paralympic Swimming in 2019 at the Parapan American Games! Born with a partial left hand, Arianna has never let it define her or deterred her from achieving her goals. Arianna is currently training to make team Canada at the next Paralympic Games in 2024 in Paris! Today, Arianna stops by to talk about her life so far, her training schedule, public speaking appearances, her passion to have the Paralympics be on the same level as the Olympics, and What she "Will" do next!? Also, we get a little visit from Four Time Olympic Snowboarder Mercedes Nicoll as she stops by to give Arianna a little advice! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a joy talking to this humble, yet brilliant Sports Chiropractor, Dr. Jim Kurtz.Dr.Jim has been the team chiropractor for the Seattle Seahawks since 2009. He is also the team chiropractor for the OL Reign. Dr Kurtz was a member of the sports medicine staff of the PGA TOUR from 2002 to 2011. He holds the distinction of being the first chiropractor ever selected by the US Olympic Committee to an international Paralympic event. He was Team USA's chiropractor to the Parapan American Games in Rio in 2007 and the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008.Dr Kurtz was awarded the sports chiropractor of the year in 2014 by the American Chiropractic Association's Sports Council and again in 2015 by the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians becoming the first chiropractor to receive this honor by both organizations.What a joy it was to learn from this legend, and we are sure you will learn as much as we did. 

Trevor is a is a father of 2 who has several World Championship All Star awards. He is a Parapan American Games champion and has competed in 4 Paralympic Games for Team Canada in the sport of wheelchair rugby. He is co-captain of Team Canada National Team. He has recently competed in the 2021 World Para Surfing Championships, adding surfing to his impressive resume. DROP IN on E. 69 to find out more about his Paralympic experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode #038 - Please welcome Personnel Security Specialist Trevon Jenifer. Trevon Jenifer was born without limbs due to a rare disease called Congenital Phocomelia. When Trevon was 4 years old, his step-dad (Eric Brown) came into his life and helped raise him. All of Trevon's siblings were participating in sports, so Eric found an organization that offered Wheelchair Track and Wheelchair Basketball. Trevon broke and still holds the records in the 100-, 200-, 400- and 800-meter races for Wheelchair Track in the U11 and U14 age groups. He competed in Wheelchair Track and Basketball until the age of 12, then competed in Wrestling his junior and senior year in High School. His senior year he finished 3rd in the State of Maryland and has a record of 32-8. Trevon was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2006, Trevon wrote an autobiography about his life called From the Ground Up. From 2006-2011, Trevon attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where earned his Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. He was a member of the Edinboro University Wheelchair Basketball Team, where he went from being the 8th man on an 8-man roster to the best player on the Team by 2009. He was a 2x All-American (2010 and 2011) and Captain from 2009-2011. Trevon made his first Team USA appearance in 2009 when he was on the U23 Team that took Gold in Junior World's Championship. He then made the Men's National Team in 2010 and has been a member ever since. He has won Gold in the Parapan American Games in 2011 (Guadalajara, Mexico), 2015 (Toronto, Canada), and 2019 (Lima, Peru). Trevon won two Silver in the Worlds Championship Games in 2014 in Incheon, South Korea, and in Hamburg, Germany in 2018. He is a 3X Paralympic medalist, winning a Bronze Medal in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, Gold Medalist in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, Gold Medalist in 2020 Paralympic Games in Toyko. In 2013-2015, Trevon played professional Wheelchair Basketball in the south of France. Trevon is a proud father to a baby girl and baby boy. While being a full-time Father, Trevon is also an active member in his community, where volunteers as an assistant coach for the Edinboro University Wheelchair Basketball Team. He does countless demonstrations and motivational speeches, for schools (elementary and up), ADA, FBI, FEMA, YMCA, etc. all over the United States, speaking on topics that cover perseverance, Paralympic movement, bullying, and adaptive/disability awareness. Social Media: www.treyj5.com, Facebook: Trevon Jenifer, Twitter: @Trevon_Jenifer, Instagram: @TreyJenifer Hosted and Edited by: Cody Starken, Associate Producer and assistant editor: Starr Vazquez This episode is sponsored by the United States Secret Service. www.secretservice.gov Special Thanks to PSS Trevon Jenifer for his time and support, and SMD for their support. Music is “Nova Police” by Hermelin, found here: www.hermelin.bandcamp.com/track/nova-police. The music used in the podcast was altered from the original soundtrack by cutting specific sections of the music to create the intro and outro of the podcast. This work Attribution-Noncommercial-sharealike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US), which license definition is located here: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0 Want to join the Secret Service? Click here to start your journey https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/?k=USSS Please visit us at: Twitter@secretservice, Instagram@secretservice, Facebook @UnitedStatesSecretServiceOfficial, YouTube@US Secret Service, and LinkedIn @U.S. Secret Service Subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or SoundCloud.com and find it at www.secretservice.gov/press/social-media/

Cody Jones is a Paralympic javelin thrower, a public speaker, and a children's book author.  He grew up in Simi Valley, CA, and was born with cerebral palsy.  Cody played baseball, primarily one-handed in high school, which led to a vast amount of media attention and a meeting with the US Paralympic Track & Field. He participated in the Paralympic Games Rio in 2016 and was a gold medalist in the Javelin at the US Para Track and Field National Championships in 2017 and 2019. Cody was also a bronze medalist in the 2019 Parapan American Games.Sports Saved My Life is produced by Angel City SportsClayton Frech is the Executive ProducerDave Pantano is the Producer and EditorMackenzie Soldan is in charge of MarketingTony Memmel wrote and performed the theme songAbout Angel City SportsAngel City Sports provides free, year-round adaptive sport clinics, equipment, and competitive opportunities for kids, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities or visual impairments. Angel City Sports' flagship event, the annual Angel City Games presented by The Hartford, debuted in 2015 and is now the largest multi-sport Paralympic competition in the U.S. for kids, adults, and veterans. Participants include, but are not limited to, individuals with limb differences and amputation, spinal cord injury, quadriplegia, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, blindness or visual impairment, traumatic brain injury, stroke, muscular dystrophy, and dwarfism or short stature. Ultimately, Angel City Sports is working to create a community and sense of belonging for people with physical disabilities, supporting them to reach their full potential and unlock their dreams through its programming in sport, the arts, health and wellness, higher education, career opportunities, and personal development. To learn more, please visit http://www.angelcitysports.org and follow @angelcitysports on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linked-in, and YouTube. 

Miles Krajewski was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and raised in Yankton, South Dakota. He started playing badminton at the age of eight by participating in the 2013 World Dwarf Games. He began playing in USAB junior tournaments against average height players his age and participated in his first international para-badminton tournament in Northern Ireland at the age of 10. Miles has competed in 21 international tournaments, including the 2019 Parapan American Games, where he earned silver in SH6 Men's Singles. You can follow Miles' journey on his Facebook page - Miles Krajewski - Parabadminton. Sports Saved My Life is produced by Angel City SportsClayton Frech is the Executive ProducerDave Pantano is the Producer and EditorMackenzie Soldan is in charge of MarketingTony Memmel wrote and performed the theme song About Angel City SportsAngel City Sports provides free, year-round adaptive sport clinics, equipment, and competitive opportunities for kids, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities or visual impairments. Angel City Sports' flagship event, the annual Angel City Games presented by The Hartford, debuted in 2015 and is now the largest multi-sport Paralympic competition in the U.S. for kids, adults, and veterans. Participants include, but are not limited to, individuals with limb differences and amputation, spinal cord injury, quadriplegia, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, blindness or visual impairment, traumatic brain injury, stroke, muscular dystrophy, and dwarfism or short stature. Ultimately, Angel City Sports is working to create a community and sense of belonging for people with physical disabilities, supporting them to reach their full potential and unlock their dreams through its programming in sport, the arts, health and wellness, higher education, career opportunities, and personal development. To learn more, please visit http://www.angelcitysports.org and follow @angelcitysports on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linked-in, and YouTube. 

Brandon is a Paralympic Cycling National Team athlete who works for an accounting firm. In 2014, he dove into shallow waters at the beach and was left paralyzed from the chest down. Claiming ownership of his life with a spinal cord injury meant relearning all his daily activities from feeding himself to changing clothes and getting active again. He started using a handcycle for cardiovascular improvement and was immediately hooked. Brandon grew as an athlete and exactly three years after the accident, he was invited to join the US Paralympic Cycling Residence Program. CAF has supported Brandon with competition travel and equipment costs over the years, helping him make huge strides in his athletic career and qualifying for his first world championships. Brandon is a two-time silver medalist at the 2019 Parapan American Games, silver medalist at the 2019 Paracycling World Championship, and earned multiple medals at the UCI World Cup and National Championships. Now he's training full-time with the US Paralympic Cycling Team to bring home the gold from the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics. We are grateful to spend an hour with Brandon Lyons and Kristie Boltz and talk about his journey.  Some important links:  https://www.challengedathletes.org http://support.challengedathletes.org/site/TR?px=1293395&fr_id=1760&pg=personal

McKenna Geer stopped by The Protectors to talk about her journey to the Paralympic games not only this summer, but Rio 2016.  We also talk about what the day in the life of an athlete is like, shooting sports, the incredible accuracy needed to hit the target (like splitting hairs!!), and a ton more.  About McKenna: She is an American Paralympic sports shooter. She became the first female sports shooter to win a medal in shooting at the 2016 Summer Paralympics and also won two medals in the 2019 Parapan American Games.From the Team Site: The International Paralympic Committee named Geeer one of the “Top 10 Para-Athletes You Should Like Before 2016” noting “expect her to be huge come Rio 2016.” That's tall billing, but Dahl takes it in stride, saying that it reassures her she's on the right track. In 2014, she moved to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/theprotectors)

Megan Rose is the Managing Director of Major Events for the United States Tennis Association. In this role, Megan is responsible for the promotion, operation, and strategic direction of the USTA's professional tennis assets including the US Open Series, the Davis Cup & Billie Jean King Cup, Pro Circuit, World Team Cup, the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan American Games, Parapan American Games, and Laver Cup. Megan is also responsible for the successful operation of the US Open Wheelchair Championships and the US Open Junior Championships. In addition, Megan also serves as Team Leader for USA Olympic Tennis. In this role, she is responsible for the organization and planning of all team eligibility, activities and logistics for Tokyo 2021, and serves as the USTA's NGB liaison to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Topics Covered: - Being an athlete and transitioning into the corporate sports industry - The business of freelancing Connect with Megan on LinkedIn: HERE ---------------------------- Connect with Outnumbered on LinkedIn: HERE Follow Outnumbered on Instagram: HERE Follow Outnumbered on Twitter: HERE Follow Outnumbered on Facebook: HERE Also, don't forget to share this episode with your coworkers, friends, family members and anyone you know pursuing a career in sports! #OutnumberedPodcast

Tamara (Tami) was introduced to table tennis in a rehabilitation center: Tami was born with spina bifida and had a life expectancy of 18. She is now 23 years old, the first Chilean table tennis player to win gold at the Parapan American Games, and on her way to Tokyo. Tamara's ability to reach and connect with a wide range of people is almost as impressive as her constantly changing colored hair (most recently red, and purple before), and she's leveraged those skills to become an outspoken advocate for members of the disabled community. In this episode, Tamara discusses player discusses her experience with spina bifida and her dreams for the future. Featured contributing experts in order of appearance include Paola Leonelli (mother), Judy Thibadeau (Director of Research and Services, Spina Bifida Association), and Ricardo Elizalde (President of the Chilean Paralympic Committee). English voice overs: Michele Mittelman, Melissa Mittelman and Kyle Harrold. Audio clips from Team USA's Opening Ceremony, 2019 Parapan American Games YouTube page.

In this series, we talk about adaptive technologies and physical disability. In this episode of the series, Paralympian Ezra Frech joins us to discuss the disability community at the intersection of technology. We discuss disability in the space of intersectionality, the significance of sports for the disability community, and why designing for a diversity of bodies, with equity and empathy, makes a difference. Ezra Frech is an American Paralympian Athlete who competes in high jump, long jump, and sprinting events in international level events. Ezra was born with congenital limb differences, missing his left knee, left shin bone, and fingers on his left hand, and has used a running blade since he was 4 years old.  In 2019 Ezra made the US Paralympic Track and Field Team and, as the youngest athlete on the team at 14 year’s old, competed in three international events, including the Junior World Para-Para-Athletics Championships, where he won three medals, the Parapan American Games where he won two silver medals, and the World Para-Athletics Championships, where he placed in the top 8 in all three of his events and was the youngest athlete out of 1,400 competitors. He’s slated to compete for Team USA in the upcoming 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games. He is an advocate for disability rights, and the inspiration behind and co-founder of Angel City Sports, a high-growth, high-impact non-profit organization dedicated to providing the joy of sports to children and adults with physical disabilities.  Episode produced by Matt Perry and Ana Marsh.

Bret sits down with Paralympian Jessica Lewis. Jessica was born in Warwick Parish, Bermuda with a condition called Diastematomyelia, which is a disorder in which a bone pierced her spine and split it leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. She has been involved in sports her whole life. She currently resides in Misssisauga, Canada. She is a multiple time gold medallist at the Parapan Am games and has competed at a world championship in Doha, Qatar. She is coached by her former teammate Curtis Thom with her club team, Cruisers Sports. She was introduced to her former coach Ken Thom at the age of 13 and began training in 2010. She received her education from Brock University in Physiotherapy, Sport and Recreation Studies. She has been the Flag bearer for Bermuda at multiple international events including the 2011 Parapan Am games in Guadalajara Mexico, the Paralympic games in 2012 & 2016. She dedicated her Parapan Am games medals in 2019 to her late coach Ken Thom who passed away after a Scuba Diving accident in South Africa in 2017. Afterwards she was quoted as saying “It's been tough not having Ken with us as [the 2019 Parapan American Games] was the first big competition without him, but I'm doing all of this now in his honour. I'm so thankful to my coach Curtis Thom for getting me to this point. I could never explain just how grateful I am to him for stepping in after the loss of his dad and my previous coach Ken."

Today's Maverick is the incredible Blake Leeper.  Patrick "Blake" Leeper, eight-time Paralympic Track and Field international medalist, world record holder and three-time American record holder started his medal run in 2011 at the Parapan American Games where he took his first silver in the 100-meter dash. He went on to compete in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, where he picked up two more medals, a bronze in the 200-meter dash and silver in the 400-meter dash, losing to South African Oscar Pistorius, whose world record of 45.39 seconds is Leeper is chasing. In 2013, Leeper also took four medals at the Paralympic World Championships in Lyon, France, where he ran as part of the world record-setting 4x100-meter relay gold medal team. At the same event he took the silver medal in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. Leeper's medal collection includes one gold, six silver and one bronze. Over his career, he hopes to win more medals than any Paralympic athlete in track and field. He is also striving to be the first American track and field Paralympian who qualifies for the able bodied Olympic trials. In addition to the medals he has already won, Leeper holds one 2013 Paralympic world record in the 4x100m relay and three American records in the 100-meter dash (10.91). On June 21st the day after a one-year suspension for the use of a non-performance drug discovered after participating in an event on June 20th 2015. Leeper broke his own American record in the 200-meter dash (21.49) and smashed the 400-meter dash record with a time of (46.54). Leeper's world record for his part in the 4x100-meter relay still stands today. The 26-year-old Leeper, who was born without legs from a congenital birth defect, did not start racing until 2010. It was at his first ever race in Edmond, Oklahoma that he caught the attention of the Associate Director of High Performance for U.S. Paralympics Track and Field, who convinced his parents to let their son move into the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, where he started his habit of winning. That's when Leeper left the University of Tennessee to embark on a journey that no one could envision for a kid from Tennessee born without legs. Find him at https://www.leeper.run/ and on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/leepster/ Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review so we can build this Maverick Revolution together! To learn more about Shari and her Maverick work, head over to www.shariteigman.com

Matt hails from Detroit, Michigan and is easily the happiest person in any given room. Matt began playing wheelchair basketball in 1998 when he was 14 years old, and he cannot remember a time when basketball wasn't everything to him. Clearly his disability didn't get in the way of his love for the game, and luckily he found friends who didn't treat him any different for being in a wheelchair. Game. On. Matt was on the Gold medal winning US Team 2007 and 2011 Parapan American Games and he has been nominated for Best Male Athlete with a disability ESPY Award. He also competed in the 2004 and 2008 summer Paralympics. Spina bifida has nothing on our friend Matt. Instead of holding him back, it propels him forward! And inspires thousands along the way. Tune in and learn all about seeking the positive and becoming your very own hero. EPISODE SHOW NOTES: https://EVERYKIND.com/become-your-own-heroYOU FIT HERE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/youfithereEVERYKIND: https://EVERYKIND.com

A native of southern California, born and raised in San Diego, Josh Cinnamo was born with a congenital limb deficiency of his right arm. Cinnamo played on the football team at Morse High School and was a dual sport athlete at Luther College where he competed on the football and track teams. Cinnamo has competed in several arenas including various CrossFit competitions, Spartan races, the Arnold Sports Festival and the Working Wounded Games. Since attending a Paralympic talent camp in Chicago in April 2014, Cinnamo has emerged as one of the top field athletes on Team USA as an F46 shot put thrower. Cinnamo has set multiple F46 shot put records since his debut in 2014. He won gold at both the 2019 Parapan American Games and 2019 World Para Athletics Championships, and currently holds the world record throw of 16.80 meters....Son of Michele Cinnamo-King and Charlie Cinnamo...Married to Kate Cinnamo...Has two children, Tate and Tess...Has two brothers, Chuck and Chris.In this episode, Josh and I have a great conversation. Here are some of the topics and people that we discuss:1. Winning at life with a congenital limb deficiency2. A cool story about Bert Sorin and Sorinex3. Strength training 4. Special Olympics Athletes5. Brandon Lilly 6. Brittany Leese7. Friends and Mentors 8. Crispy Avila9. Derick CarverSuch an awesome guy! Thank you Josh. Reflexive Performance Reset USING RPR’S SIMPLE SYSTEM YOU CAN RESET YOUR BODY OUT OF SURVIVAL AND INTO PERFORMANCE.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show (http://cash.app/$thefitboss)

On August 7, 2015 Kevan Hueftle started his sobriety journey. Exactly four years later his Team USA 2019 Parapan American Games uniform arrived in the mail. A sprinter, he'd go on to win gold and silver in Lima, Peru and is now a hopeful for Tokyo next summer. Hueftle joins us to share his story, from a gun accident that led to the amputation of his foot to his battle with alcohol addiction. A farmer and beef salesman, he finds time to train in the midst of 14 hour days and as a motivational speaker talks openly about his mental health including his struggles with anxiety. It's an inspiring conversation about facing some of life's biggest challenges and working to overcome them, day by day. #WhatsGood

To contact the Paralympic Soccer team: email: extndedNT@ussoccer.org Twitter: @4Ssharp @ussoccer_PNT https://www.ussoccer.com/teams/paralympic-national-team The United States Men's Para 7 aside (Paralympic) National Soccer Team represents the United States in international competitions. It is operated by the United States Soccer Federation. The team finished seventh at the 2015 IPCPF World Championships. They have competed at several Paralympic Games, including the 1984, 1992, 1996, 2004 and 2012 editions. One of their best finishes was in 1996 when they finished fourth. Their Head Coach is Stuart Sharp. Comedian Josh Blue is one of their former players. The U.S. Para 7 aside National Soccer Team (USPNT) is an elite level program that selects players from across the United States in preparation for International standard competition. The National Team, in addition to friendly matches and invitational tournaments, competes in the following events: Intercontinental Cup, Copa America, World Championships, Parapan American Games, Paralympic Games. For players to be eligible, they must be ambulant (no requirement for assistive walking aids) and have one of the following neurological conditions, have had a Stroke, have Cerebral Palsy, have had a Traumatic Brain Injury / Acquired Brain Injury. Individuals with the above conditions may display varying degrees of the following impairments: Diplegia, Hemiplegia, Triplegia, Quadriplegia, Monoplegia, Dystonia, Athetosis, Ataxia, Balance issues, Co-ordination issues, Weakness in certain areas of the body. In many cases the above conditions may result in only minimal levels of motor dysfunction (some not noticeable to the untrained eye); however, under the rules of the sport, this could still make players eligible for the U.S. Paralympic National Team. "Football 7-a-side" is the standard term for the game informally known as "C.P. Football," and international tournaments are hosted by the International Paralympic Committee, FIFA, or International Federation of CP Football IFCPF. Team selection and tournaments are competitive, and tend to be run like professional sport organizations. The USA team trains at the Olympic Training Center at Chula Vista, California, and the Home Depot Center at Carson, California.

Sarah Melenka from Team Canada's Women's Sitting Volleyball Team joins the show to talk about qualifying for Tokyo, Parapan American Games in Peru and her career with Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)’s varsity team.  Sarah was diagnosed with compartment syndrome at age 15. After several surgeries she returned to play competing in track and field and volleyball in high school before becoming a varsity athlete in the CCAA. Sarah is a big part of our National Team earning a bronze medal at Parapan Games and qualifying for Tokyo when they won their qualifier on home soil in Halifax!  We hope you enjoyed this episode! The best compliment you can give the show is telling your friends and leaving a 5 Star review! Please leave a comment, we love hearing from you! Stay Excellent friends! 

Episode 451 David Prince is a two-time United States Paralympian sprinter. Raised by missionary parents, David traveled frequently across the country and to Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2002, at the age of 18, he crashed his motorcycle which resulted in having his leg amputated below the knee as well as a traumatic head injury. After seeing his life come crumbling down, David was able to turn that setback into a comeback and began training to become a sprinter. In 2010, Prince won a gold medal at the U.S. Paralympic National Championship in the 400m event, a silver medal in the long jump and a bronze medal in the 200m event. In 2011, Prince won a gold medal at the 2011 Parapan American Games in the 200m and 400m events. In 2011 at the IPC World Championship, he won a silver medal in the 4 × 100 meter relay and a bronze medal in the 400m event. Later that year at the Paralympic National Championship, he won a gold medal in the 200m and 400m events and a silver medal in the 100m race. Prince narrowly missed qualifying for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China but four years later, he achieved his goal of qualifying for the 2012 Paralympic Games where he won an individual bronze medal in the 400 m T43/44 event, in a new world record time for his own T44 classification. In 2016, he was back at the Paralympic Games in Rio where he finished 6th in the 200 m event. In November of 2019, Prince, at the age of 36, won a bronze medal in Dubai at the 2019 World Championships in the 200 m race. On this episode of the podcast, we hear the inspirational story of David Prince as he shares how the accident the almost ruined his life, brought him closer to God and how recent trials in his life has helped him re-shape his focus to living for Christ in the midst of continuing his quest to compete in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

In this episode, I talk about my experience following the ParaPan-American Games. I discuss the ins and outs of my training program, as well as my pursuit of the Paralympic "A" Standard.

In this episode, I talk about my experience representing Team USA at the ParaPan-American Games, and my pursuit of the Paralympic A Standard

Sitting Volleyball Paralympian Jillian Williams kicked bone cancer’s butt and is now training for Tokyo 2020 Para Olympics. Listen in while this 2019 Parapan American Games gold medalist sits down with me to talk about her unexpected journey that the Lord is carrying her through. She truly is a champion! Enjoy

In Episode 176 Taylor Warren fills as Randy Warren is riding Haute Route Alps this week in France.  Dean and Taylor are in Peru and report on the Parapan American Games where Americans Sam Bosco and Joe Berenyi won gold on the track.  The Warrens talk about the first stages of the Vuelta and run down the Colorado Classic, Ladies Tour of Norway, and a couple other races.

We catch up with Tommy as he's on his way to Georgia as he talks about the skill sets young SIDs should pick up, his medals from the ParaPan American Games, his disability growing up and working through sport, and so much more. Follow us on social media @sportsinfocast Follow Tommy on Twitter: @TommyChasanoff Sign up for our newsletter: SIDcast.fireside.fm/newsletter

Sports Reveal Character - Episode 1 Josh Vander Vies Josh Vander Vies is a Canadian former international boccia player, 2004 Paralympian, 2011 Parapan American Games bronze medalist in singles and 2012 Paralympic bronze medalist in doubles. Josh is also a lawyer with a practice focused on not-for-profit and estate law.This podcast is an extract from the Holistic growth monthly magazine infinithoughts. For more details please visit https://infinitheism.com/infinithoughtsHappy listening... Stay Connected.

Joe Delagrave is an athlete who has achieve numerous titles in wheel chair rugby. He is an absolute inspiration and this podcast describes how he was able to go from a healthy star football player to paralysis. After being paralyzed he choose to see it as an opportunity which made all the difference. His achievements include: National Team achievements: 2009 Americas Championship, Gold; 2010 World Championships, Gold; 2011 Americas Championships, Gold; 2012 Paralympic Games, Bronze; 2013 Americas Championships, Gold; 2014 World Championships, Bronze; 2015 Parapan American Games, Silver; 2016 Paralympic Games, Silver

After Tanner lost his eyesight, he was able to look inside himself and see his value and true potential. He believes that forgiveness allows us to break free from our past to create a new future. Tanner Gers has earned 4 degrees, published multiple books, started businesses, became a professional athlete, national champion in three sports, and is now a disability advocate, highly sought-after speaker, and Executive Director of My Blind Spot, a nonprofit who hires people of all abilities to test and remediate inaccessible websites and mobile apps. Here's the thing though. Tanner accomplished all of this after waking up in the hospital, at age 21, totally blind. As a disability advocate, Tanner has helped develop software so he and other blind individuals can independently access calculus equations, helped make the state of Arizona's job board accessible to users of assistive technology, and serves on the Arizona Governor's council Employment Committee for Blindness and Visual Impairment. Debated to be the greatest batter in the history of the National Beep Baseball Association as a 6-time NBBA World Series All-Star and 3-time MVP since 2008 (beepball is the adaptive version of baseball for the blind) (All track and field here) 2011 and 2012 US Paralympic Track and Field National Team Member, 2011 ParaPan American Games gold medalist and 2012 trials gold medalist in the long jump, 2012 US Paralympian in long jump and 4X100m relay, 2013 World Championship US Track and Field long jumper 2015 and 2016 National Champion in track cycling. His athletic career opened the doors for his professional speaking career, with programs delivered at companies, universities, and associations across the US, from the National Speakers Association National Headquarters, to Dartmouth College, SHRM, Wounded Warriors, Ford and Toyota. For Tanner, it isn't about adding up any number of achievements though. It's about embracing his life and living it to the fullest by helping others recognize and achieve their true potential, regardless of circumstance. http://tannergers.com/  Tanner@TannerGers.com 866-364-6421   tags:  stories that empower, stories, story, that, empower, storiesthatempower, podcast, hope, inspiration, inspire, inspiring, lift up, light, dark, motivate, motivation, motivating, Sean, Tanner, Gers, tannergers, tannergers.com, author, professional, athlete, national, champion, sports, disability, advocate, speaker, executive, director, my, blind, spot, nonprofit, myblindspot.org, remediate, inacessible, websites, mobile, apps, nbba, beepball, paralympic, paralympian  

Missing hard drives that were uncovered during an audit of the Pan Am Games has triggered an investigation by the Information and Privacy commissioner. NDP MPP Paul Miller wrote to the OPP Commissioner calling for an investigation on what he called a potential obstruction of the auditor's office and criminal mischief. Guest: Paul Miller, NDP MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, Critic for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Critic for 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games. scottthompsonshow

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Honourable Charles Sousa, Ontario's Minister of Finance With Investing in Jobs‎ Charles Sousa is Ontario's Minister of Finance and the Member of Provincial Parliament, MPP, for the riding of Mississauga South. Charles also serves as Vice Chair of Treasury Board and Management Board of Cabinet. Charles was first elected in October 2007. He has held positions as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan and ParaPan American Games, Minister of Labour and Chair of Treasury Board and Management Board of Cabinet. He has also served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development Trade and the Minister of Government Consumer Services. As Minister of Finance, Charles has delivered multiple Budgets and Fall Economic Statements. He negotiated the formation of the Canadian Cooperative Securities Regulator and continues to lead a national discussion on retirement income security. As Minister of Labour, Charles led the largest overhaul of Ontario's occupational health and safety system in 30 years. As Minister of Citizenship and Immigration he introduced an immigration strategy to foster more support of settlement and newcomer representation in Ontario. Charles possesses an extensive background in the financial sector. He worked at RBC Financial Group for more than 20 years in commercial banking. Prior to that, he owned and operated a financing company supporting small businesses. He also served as a member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Toronto Board of Trade, and as a director of the American Chamber of Commerce. Charles' commitment to community service earned him the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003 and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. He was also inducted as a Commander to the Order of Merit in Portugal. Charles graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1982 with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration. In 1991, he completed a fellowship at the Institute of Canadian Bankers. He earned an Executive MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in 1994. Charles is married with three children. Speaker: The Honourable Charles Sousa, Ontario's Minister of Finance *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

The Empire Club of Canada Presents: Honourable David R. Peterson, Chairman, Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games With Building on the success of the Pan Am Games Mr. Peterson is Chairman of the Toronto law firm of Cassels Brock and Blackwell LLP, where he practices corporate/commercial law. Mr. Peterson is Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 2015 Pan American, Parapan American Games. He is Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Toronto, a director of St. Michael's Hospital Foundation and was Chairman of the successful 2009 Toronto bid for 2015 Pan Am Games. He has been a director of over 30 public and private companies. He is currently a director of Rogers Communications Inc., Franco Nevada Corporation and Ivanhoe Cambridge. He was the Founding Chairman of the Toronto Raptors Basketball Club Inc. and Chapters Inc. Mr. Peterson is or was Chairman or Director or active with a number of charitable, educational and environmental organizations including the Shaw Festival, Advisory Board of the Coady International Institute, Toronto City Summit Alliance, the Ontario March of Dimes, the Ontario Canada Day Committee, Canadian Club, Cercle Canadien, Council for Canadian Unity, Young President's Organization, World President's Organization, the Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada, Frontier College, Peter Lougheed Medical Research Foundation, Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, Magnetic True North Theatre, West Park Health Centre and Toronto Abuse Centre. He was chairman of the Commonwealth Team observing the 1992 elections in Guyana. He was chief federal negotiator for the devolution of the Northwest Territories and has worked on a number of important negotiations with the First Nations, including Caledonia and the Ontario Gaming Agreement. He is a senior fellow at Massey College, a fellow of McLaughlin College and Executive in Residence at Rotman School of Management and was an adjunct professor at York University. He speaks often on national and international issues, as well as being a frequent commentator on television. Mr. Peterson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Toronto and studied at the University of Caen, France. He was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1969 and appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1980 and was appointed by Her Majesty to the Privy Council in 1992. Mr. Peterson has received many honorary doctorates, including from the University of Toronto the University of Western Ontario and the University of Ottawa. In 1994 the government of France appointed him a Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honour of France. In 1995 the International Assembly of French Speaking Parliamentarians presented him with the Ordrede la Pléiade. He was awarded the Order of Ontario in 2009. In 1975 he was elected as a Member of the Ontario Legislature, and became the leader of the Ontario Liberal party in 1982. He served as Premier of the Province between 1985 and 1990, overseeing a very active period of reform and playing a major role in the country's constitutional discussions. He resides in Toronto and Caledon with his actress/author wife Shelley... Speaker: The Hon. David R. Peterson, Chairman, Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games *The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.* *Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*

This quick blurb I talk about finding out about the best birthday present ever and being entered into an awesome radio contest. I am really truly blessed with the best friend ever! Couple questions with frustrations attached to them. Learn more about the Pan American and ParaPan American Games.

Wheelchair tennis player Kaitlyn Verfuerth has represented the US in the Athens and Beijing Paralympic Games. She won gold medals in both single and doubles at the 2007 Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has just begun her season’s campaign to qualify for the Parapan Games in Toronto this summer with the plan of returning to Rio for the Paralympic Games in 2016.  Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter @kverfuerth and follow her results here.Sign up for the free weekly online Women in Sport Podcast’s Official Publication here.  Follow along on Twitter @chrisestafford. Join us on Facebook at Women in Sport.