Induction year: 2011
Michael Edgson was born on May 6, 1969 in North Vancouver, but spent his youth in Nanaimo. He is one of Canada’s most successful athletes whose performances continue to rank him amongst the very best.
One of the most decorated Paralympic athletes in Canadian history, Michael, a visually-impaired swimmer, captured 18 gold and three silver medals while setting nine world records over three Paralympic Games.
At the 1988 Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea, he won nine gold medals en route to setting four world records.
These accomplishments earned him the BC Disabled Athlete of the Year Award on three occasions, and he was a finalist for the Canadian Athlete of the Year award in 1992.
After his swimming career, Michael was part of the Victoria Commonwealth Games Society where he was responsible for the field of play of swimming at the Victoria Commonwealth Games. Inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame, he was also the first Paralympic swimmer to be inducted into Swimming Canada’s Circle of Excellence in 2009. Michael continues to contribute to sport in Canada as the Finance Director for the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
