Canada's Man in Motion
Athlete keeps moving—and inspiring—despite paralyzing injuries.
Rick Hansen is a hero in Canada. The man who carried the Olympic Torch into the opening ceremonies at the start of the Winter Games, was severely injured in an accident at the age of 15.
At first, he thought his dreams of becoming an Olympic athlete were crushed along with his spinal cord. Hansen has since won 19 international wheelchair marathons and has six medals as a Paralympian.
His passion is to make the world accessible to everyone, which he works toward with his Rick Hansen Foundation.
In 1985 Hansen earned his Canadian nickname when he wheeled more than 40,000 km through 34 countries. He raised $26 million for spinal cord injury research and quality of life programs. He inspired me in just the brief time we got to talk while at the Olympic games this week. Check it out.
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