Sebastien Fortier

Hunting. (quebechebdo.com, 26 Sep 2016)

Canadian ice hockey player Sydney Crosby. (gems.pro, 21 Feb 2011)

He was affected by a back injury in late 2018. (quebechebdo.com, 04 Oct 2018)

He was suffering from injuries in both shoulders and his back during the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi. (ici.radio-canada.ca, 06 Mar 2018)

During the 2012/13 season, he had two rotator cuff injuries, as well as bladder and blood problems which hampered his training. He returned to competition in December 2013. (rmoutlook.com, 12 Dec 2013)

In May 2005 he underwent surgery to remove of a small part of his spine. The operation was unsuccessful, which resulted in recurring lower back pain. In 2011 the pain hindered his performances. "I was bothered by back pain, it changed my position on the sled and that is why my results suffered." (hebdosregionaux.ca, 19 May 2012; sebastienfortier.com, 01 Jan 2008)

He has competed in handcycling at national level. (canadiancyclist.com, 01 May 2016)

In September 2003 he was involved in an accident at work. A bundle of 19 roof frames fell on him, severely injuring his spinal cord and resulting in partial paraplegia. He had not been an athlete before his accident, but during his rehabilitation he began to practise sports to improve his physical condition. (cccski.com, 27 Feb 2011; paralympic.ca, 01 Mar 2010)

TWO-YEAR BREAK
He took a two-year break from competitive skiing after the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi. He returned to the sport in late 2016. "I really took my time to recover from my injuries, without pressure to perform. I started training five or six days a week two years later, in 2016. Coming back slowly, it was the best decision of my career." (lepeuplelotbiniere.ca, 21 Mar 2017; ici.radio-canada.ca, 06 Mar 2018)