Benoit
Huot

At his fifth Paralympic Games in 2016, Benoit Huot made Canadian swimming history, surpassing Stephanie Dixon and tying Michael Edgson for second all-time with 20 Paralympic swimming medals (Tim McIsaac holds the record at 28). Huot’s highlight in Rio was a bronze medal in the 400-m freestyle in a personal best time which brought him to the magical 20-medal barrier.

In 2018, he was Canada’s Assistant Chef de Mission at the Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Australia. Started MBA studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.

His best Paralympic Games were in Athens in 2004 with five gold medals and one silver. Four years earlier at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, he collected three gold medals and three silver. In 2008 at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, Huot won four bronze medals. Most recently, he won a medal of each colour at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. In London, Huot was named Team Canada’s flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony in recognition of his achievements.

Huot completed a self-described crazy year in 2014 with a gold medal in the 200-m IM at the Pan Pacific Para-swimming Championships. He added a silver minutes later in the 100-m backstroke. The performances came on the heels of some bad news for Huot who had several of his Paralympic Games medals stolen from his home. The medals were later replaced.

In 2015, Huot raced at two major events. At the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games he earned a gold and four silver and also read the Athlete’s Oath in the Opening Ceremony; and at the 2015 IPC World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland he won two silver and a bronze.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

20 Paralympic medals over five Games (nine gold, five silver and six bronze)… Canada’s flag bearer at London 2012 Closing Ceremony… 31 medals at the IPC World Championships… Four Commonwealth Games medals… 12 Parapan American Games medals… Broke more than 60 world records in his category…

PERSONAL

In 2014, Huot wrote his final exam at the Université du Québec à Montreal to complete his degree in marketing, communications and administration…Served as a Paralympic broadcaster at the Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games… Right to Play advocate… Huot’s disability is a club foot… Started swimming competitively at age 10.

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

2016 Paralympic Games 3rd 400-m freestyle

2015 Parapan Am Games 1st 400-m freestyle

2015 Parapan Am Games 2nd 200-m individual medley

2015 Parapan Am Games 2nd 100-m backstroke

2015 IPC World Championships 2nd 200-m individual medley

2015 IPC World Championships 2nd 400-m freestyle

2015 IPC World Championships 3rd 100-m backstroke

2012 Paralympic Games 1st 200-m individual medley

2012 Paralympic Games 2nd 400-m freestyle

2012 Paralympic Games 3rd 100-m backstroke

2008 Paralympic Games 3rd 50-m freestyle

2008 Paralympic Games 3rd 100-m freestyle

2008 Paralympic Games 3rd 400-m freestyle

2008 Paralympic Games 3rd 200-m individual medley

2004 Paralympic Games 1st 50-m freestyle

2004 Paralympic Games 1st 100-m freestyle

2004 Paralympic Games 1st 400-m freestyle

  2004 Paralympic Games 1st 200-m individual medley

  2004 Paralympic Games 1st 100-m butterfly

  2004 Paralympic Games 2nd 100-m backstroke

  2000 Paralympic Games 1st 50-m freestyle

  2000 Paralympic Games 1st 200-m individual medley

  2000 Paralympic Games 1st 4X100 medley relay

  2000 Paralympic Games 2nd 100-m freestyle

  2000 Paralympic Games 2nd 400-m freestyle

  2000 Paralympic Games 2nd 100-m backstroke