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Colette Bourgonje Triumph + Perseverance + Inspiration

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“Attitude is Everything”

Ranked one of the world’s foremost Paralympian athletes, Colette Bourgonje is a ten-time medalist in both the summer and winter Olympic games. Inducted into the Canadian Disability, Saskatoon, and Canadian Sport Halls of Fame, Colette has inspired countless audiences with her story of immeasurable strength and perseverance. Paving her own path with a fierce resilience, Colette empowers us to endure and reimagine adversity to reach our biggest hopes and dreams.

A Métis woman from Porcupine Plain in Saskatoon and descendant of leader Gabriel Dumont, Colette Bourgonje story compels us to conquer our greatest fears and transmute the impacts of hardship. In her early teens, Colette was already a vibrant athlete, with passions that reached but were not limited to football, hockey, and track and field sports. As a cross country runner in high school, young Colette was offered scholarships from several universities for her dedication to athleticism and sportsmanship, and would go on to compete nationally. 

In 1980, Colette was involved in a life-altering car accident. The accident left 18-year-old Colette paralyzed and wheelchair bound for the rest of her life. While many would see a mountain of obstacles ahead, Colette refused to let this tragedy consume her. She became the first wheelchair bound graduate of the University of Saskatchewan’s Physical Education Department and continued with a fervent drive to pursue her sports career.  

Though there have been too many highlights in her athletic career for Bourgonje to pick one, her silver medals in Nagano and Vancouver are close to her heart. In Nagano, they were her first medals in Nordic events and marked her as a medalist in winter and summer events. Her silver in Vancouver was also the first ever Canadian Paralympic medal to be won at home. 

Now the most decorated Paralympian in the world, a school in her name, and a number of commemorations from the City of Saskatchewan, Colette has competed in seven Winter Paralympic Games (Albertville, Lillehammer, Nagano, Salt Lake City, Torino, Vancouver, Sochi) and three Summer Paralympic Games (Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney).

In April 2014, Bourgonje announced that the Paralympic Games in Sochi was her last competition. Even after retiring from a brilliant career, she continues to help others transform adversity into opportunity, raising awareness for the Para sport movement, coaching disabled youth, working as a substitute physical education teacher, and promoting active living through Saskatchewan’s In Motion program. 

A Métis woman from Porcupine Plain in Saskatoon and descendant of leader Gabriel Dumont, Colette Bourgonje story compels us to conquer our greatest fears and transmute the impacts of hardship. In her early teens, Colette was already a vibrant athlete, with passions that reached but were not limited to football, hockey, and track and field sports. As a cross country runner in high school, young Colette was offered scholarships from several universities for her dedication to athleticism and sportsmanship, and would go on to compete nationally. 

In 1980, Colette was involved in a life-altering car accident. The accident left 18-year-old Colette paralyzed and wheelchair bound for the rest of her life. While many would see a mountain of obstacles ahead, Colette refused to let this tragedy consume her. She became the first wheelchair bound graduate of the University of Saskatchewan’s Physical Education Department and continued with a fervent drive to pursue her sports career.  

Though there have been too many highlights in her athletic career for Bourgonje to pick one, her silver medals in Nagano and Vancouver are close to her heart. In Nagano, they were her first medals in Nordic events and marked her as a medalist in winter and summer events. Her silver in Vancouver was also the first ever Canadian Paralympic medal to be won at home. 

Now the most decorated Paralympian in the world, a school in her name, and a number of commemorations from the City of Saskatchewan, Colette has competed in seven Winter Paralympic Games (Albertville, Lillehammer, Nagano, Salt Lake City, Torino, Vancouver, Sochi) and three Summer Paralympic Games (Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney).

In April 2014, Bourgonje announced that the Paralympic Games in Sochi was her last competition. Even after retiring from a brilliant career, she continues to help others transform adversity into opportunity, raising awareness for the Para sport movement, coaching disabled youth, working as a substitute physical education teacher, and promoting active living through Saskatchewan’s In Motion program. 

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Location: Canada

Language: English

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