Ina Forrest emerges as strong voice in Paralympic sport

Wheelchair curling is where soon-to-be four-time Paralympian Ina Forrest found her voice.

“Joining a Paralympic sport, you’re with a group of people that live your same reality, have the same aspirations for sport,” she said. “You feel like you’re competitive within the group that you’re with and that’s something you don’t always get in the able-bodied world.”

Forrest has reached the podium in all three of her Paralympic Games visits so far. She was a member of Canada’s gold medal winning teams in 2010 and 2014 then added a bronze in 2018 in PyeongChang. She played the second position in her first two appearances and third in PyeongChang.

The 59-year-old Forrest only began wheelchair curling in 2004. At age 21, she was hit by a drunk driver which left her paralyzed. She initially didn’t consider a career in sport, with her studies and family the focus.

Forrest credits her first coach Sharon Morrisey with providing the knowledge, expertise, and opportunity to be in competitive play.

“I think that early support is what helped me to progress and develop into a high-performance athlete. Without her driving force, it might not have happened.”

Once on the sheet she was immersed into international play quickly.

“At my very first international bonspiel, I was with Team BC and we played against the newly named Paralympic team for Canada that was going to Torino in 2006 and there were also some European national teams that were also destined for the Paralympics,” Forrest recalled.

“Having that experience was absolutely amazing.”

At that bonspiel’s closing banquet Forrest was named the all-star lead.

‘’I had lost the feeling that I could play at that level and in that moment, it suddenly made me realize that the possibility was still there and maybe I could be a Paralympian.”

Just over 15 years later, and there is no doubt she is one of the best athletes in her sport.

Forrest, who resides in Spallumcheen, BC is also giving back, not only to her sport, but the entire Paralympic community. She is a member of the Canadian Paralympic Athletes’ Council where her expertise is truly appreciated.

“Being part of the athletes’ council is a way to support other Paralympic athletes and contribute to them being their best by providing my experiences,” said the 2016 Canadian Curling Hall of Fame inductee.  

“I think it’s really important that women with a disability get involved in sport. It gives you strength, flexibility, dedication, discipline but it also is a place of belonging and feeling of achieving something, self-worth that doesn’t always come from everything else that you’re involved in.

“I see sport as a body, mind and soul enhancing experience.”