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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
T54
Further personal information
Family
Husband James Duhamel
Residence
Montreal, QC, CAN
Occupation
Athlete, Author, Coach, Public Speaker
Languages
French, English
Higher education
History - University of Alberta: Edmonton, AB, CAN
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She was introduced to athletics by coach Pierre Pomerleau in 1988 at age 19 in Quebec, Canada. She competed in her first race using a wheelchair pieced together by a friend.
Why this sport?
She enjoyed the competitive aspect of the sport, the speed and the strategy involved.
International debut
Year
1989
Competing for
Canada
Location
Quebec, QC, CAN
General interest
Hero / Idol
Moroccan middle distance runner Hicham El Guerrouj, Australian sprinter Peter Norman. (chantalpetitclerc.com, 11 Mar 2010)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"The feeling of being good at something is a key to happiness." (handicaps.ca, 24 Apr 2013)
Awards and honours
She was inducted into Athletics Canada's Hall of Fame in June 2013. (tvasports.ca, 02 May 2013)
She was named the winner of the 2010 United States Sports Academy's Juan Antonio Samaranch International Olympic Committee Disabled Athlete Award. (insideworldparasport.biz, 04 Dec 2009)
In 2009 she received the Paralympic Sport Award for Best Female Athlete in recognition of her achievements at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, which included three world records. (paralympic.org, 11 Dec 2009)
In September 2009 she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame, receiving a star on the famous walk in Toronto. (canadaswalkoffame.com, 11 Dec 2009)
In July 2009 she was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. (gg.ca, 01 Jul 2009)
In 2008 she was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Canadian press, the first time an athlete with an impairment had received the honour. (insideworldparasport.biz, 04 Dec 2009)
She was the flag bearer for the Canadian team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. (alexandredespatie.ca, 20 Dec 2006)
She received the Sport Quebec Athlete of the Year award in 2000, and was named Sport Personality of the Year by La Presse in 2001. In 2002 she was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada, the first time it had been given to an athlete with an impairment. (athletics.ca, 18 Jun 2007)
She was named the winner of the 2010 United States Sports Academy's Juan Antonio Samaranch International Olympic Committee Disabled Athlete Award. (insideworldparasport.biz, 04 Dec 2009)
In 2009 she received the Paralympic Sport Award for Best Female Athlete in recognition of her achievements at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, which included three world records. (paralympic.org, 11 Dec 2009)
In September 2009 she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame, receiving a star on the famous walk in Toronto. (canadaswalkoffame.com, 11 Dec 2009)
In July 2009 she was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. (gg.ca, 01 Jul 2009)
In 2008 she was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Canadian press, the first time an athlete with an impairment had received the honour. (insideworldparasport.biz, 04 Dec 2009)
She was the flag bearer for the Canadian team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. (alexandredespatie.ca, 20 Dec 2006)
She received the Sport Quebec Athlete of the Year award in 2000, and was named Sport Personality of the Year by La Presse in 2001. In 2002 she was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada, the first time it had been given to an athlete with an impairment. (athletics.ca, 18 Jun 2007)
Other sports
As a teenager she was a keen swimmer before she took up wheelchair racing. (paralympic.ca, 11 Dec 2009)
Impairment
She lost the use of her legs when a barn door fell on her at age 13. (cbc.ca, 11 Dec 2009)
Other information
COACHING CAREER
After she retired in 2008, her former coach Peter Eriksson asked her to help train athletes on the UK Athletics team in preparation for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Then in September 2012, she was named Canada’s chef de mission for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. (cbc.ca, 29 Sep 2012; theglobeandmail.com, 30 Nov 2011)
TV PRESENTER
She has been the host of Loto-Quebec's lottery draws on television since 1994 and also hosted two seasons of the show 'Pareil, pas pareil'. (paralympic.ca, 11 Dec 2009; collectionscanada.gc.ca, 11 Dec 2009)
After she retired in 2008, her former coach Peter Eriksson asked her to help train athletes on the UK Athletics team in preparation for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Then in September 2012, she was named Canada’s chef de mission for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. (cbc.ca, 29 Sep 2012; theglobeandmail.com, 30 Nov 2011)
TV PRESENTER
She has been the host of Loto-Quebec's lottery draws on television since 1994 and also hosted two seasons of the show 'Pareil, pas pareil'. (paralympic.ca, 11 Dec 2009; collectionscanada.gc.ca, 11 Dec 2009)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 1500 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 1500 m T54 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 800 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 800 m T54 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 400 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 400 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T54 | Heat 1 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 1500 m T54 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 800 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 800 m T54 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 400 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 400 m T54 | Heat 3 | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T54 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 1500 m T54 | Final Round | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 1500 m T54 | Final Round | 6 | ||
| Women's 1500 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 800 m T54 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Women's 800 m T54 | Heat 3 | 1 | ||
| Women's 400 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 400 m T54 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T54 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 800 m T54 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 800 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 400 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 400 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T54 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T54 | Final Round | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Marathon T52-53 | Final Round | 9999 | ||
| Women's 1500 m T52-53 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 800 m T53 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 800 m T53 | Heat 1 | 2 | ||
| Women's 400 m T53 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 400 m T53 | Heat 2 | 2 | ||
| Women's 200 m T53 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T53 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T53 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T53 | Heat 2 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 1500 m TW3-4 | Final Round | 6 | ||
| Women's 800 m TW4 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Women's 800 m TW4 | Heat 2 | 2 | ||
| Women's 400 m TW4 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Women's 400 m TW4 | Heat 2 | 3 | ||
| Women's 200 m TW4 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Women's 200 m TW4 | Heat 1 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m T55 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m T55 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's Marathon T55 | Final Round | 9999 | ||
| Women's 1500 m T55 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 800 m T55 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 800 m T55 | Heat 1 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Marathon T54 | Final Round | 9999 | ||
| Women's 1500 m T54 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Women's 1500 m T54 | Heat 2 | 2 | ||
| Women's 800 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 800 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 400 m T54 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 400 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m T54 | Heat 1 | 2 | ||
| Women's 100 m T54 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 100 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 |
