Dean Bergeron

Competing at four Paralympic Games and coming home with 11 medals, wheelchair racer Dean Bergeron is one of Canada’s most successful Paralympians. Bergeron made his Paralympic debut at the Atlanta 1996 Games before also participating in 2000, 2004, and 2008. In total, Bergeron captured three gold, three silver, and five bronze medals in his impressive career. 

During the Paralympic Super Series Rewind in 2020, Bergeron looked back on his Paralympic experience, including the 100 metres at Beijing 2008 which is one of his most memorable races. After a bad start, he says he didn’t give up and instead focused on what he needed to do – and by the end of the sprint, he had crossed the finish line first.

The lesson he learned through that race is something he has never forgotten: “When things aren’t going well, just concentrate on what you can do the best and give the best performance you can, and never give up.”