Sonja Gaudet: a game changer

VERNON, B.C. – When wheelchair curler Sonja Gaudet looks at her three gold medals, earned at the 2006, 2010, and 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, she knows the impact goes beyond the victories themselves.

‘’Winning medals is wonderful but for me it’s always been about what those medals represent,’’ said the 2025 inductee into the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame.

‘’It’s about creating equality, inclusion, and a barrier-free world for everybody. It’s about removing stigmas and recognizing that people of all abilities can achieve their full potential.’’

Gaudet likely never thought a sport would become her identity for strength and purpose when she fell off a horse in 1997, which left the mother of two young children a paraplegic.

Wheelchair curling entered her life by chance. She was asked to give advice on a wheelchair accessible washroom renovation at her local curling club. This renovation was being done because it was hosting a beginner wheelchair curling clinic and she was asked to participate as well.

‘’After my accident, sport was where I turned for strength and resilience,’’ said Gaudet, also inducted into the Curling Canada Hall of Fame (2013), Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (2020), and BC Sports Hall of Fame (2020).

‘’Para sport allowed me to still be myself on the field of play. It gave me a place to belong.’’

Back in the early 2000s, wheelchair curling was still a foreign concept, but there was no doubt the sport had mass appeal for people with a disability.

‘’The appeal is you can start playing at your local club alongside family and friends,’’ said Gaudet, Canada’s Opening Ceremony flag bearer at Sochi 2014. ‘’You don’t need a lot of equipment. It’s inclusive, affordable, and it engages the mind as much as the body.’’

The first world championships were held in 2002, and the sport made its Paralympic Winter Games debut in 2006 in Torino. Gaudet played lead and was the only athlete in all three consecutive Canadian gold medal performances at the Games.

‘’Looking back, that first Games was overwhelming,’’ she said. ‘’We were helping set the standard for the sport. You don’t realize it at the time, but later you think ‘wow, can I ever replace that experience.’’’

But while Torino was revolutionary for the sport, the moment Gaudet cherishes the most is obviously Vancouver 2010 – not only where they in her home country, but her home province.

‘’That was the highlight for me,’’ she said. ‘’I grew up on the North Shore, so to have my family in the stands and being so close to home, it was incredibly special.’’

In 2010, except for Gaudet, it was a completely different team from Torino.

‘’We had an incredible group that year,’’ said Gaudet, who played with Jim Armstrong, Darryl Neighbour, Ina Forrest, and Bruno Yizek.  ‘’Everyone brought knowledge, experience, and trust. Team dynamics made all the difference.’’

Para sport introduced Gaudet to a new reality that she has also embraced in her professional career. Since 2018, she has worked as Regional Access & Inclusion Liaison with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and Spinal Cord Injury BC.

‘’My career in sport absolutely shaped that passion,’’ said Gaudet, who officially retired from the sport in 2017 after 13 years on the national squad.

‘’Now, I’m focused on ensuring everyone feels welcome – on and off the ice.’’