Paralympic Perspectives : Colette Bourgonje

As an able-bodied athlete, Colette Bourgonje of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, rose to the national level in cross-country running. She became an athlete with a disability in 1980 after an accident. She then took up wheelchair racing and later cross-country skiing in the sit-ski class. This elementary physical education teacher has competed in five Paralympic Winter Games: Tignes-Albertville 1992, Lillehammer 1994, Nagano 1998, Salt Lake City 2002 and Torino 2006. She has also competed in three Paralympic Summer Games, including Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000. A member of the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame, she has a career total of eight medals — four from the Summer Games and four from the Winter Games. 

Paralympic Journey by Colette Bourgonje

Competing in eight Paralympic Games since 1992 has been an amazing life fulfilling experience. It all started in a small town in Saskatchewan called Porcupine Plain. From playing hockey with the boys in grade four to running at the national level in grade 10, I was able to enjoy all the sports our small town offered.

The wonderful coaches like Harley Dalke, Joi Belyk, and many more, drove us all over the province to compete in basketball, volleyball, badminton, and track and field. Sport was a big part of our lives in this small, friendly community.

Life support

The support was phenomenal and totally amazing in April of 1980 when a car accident changed my life forever. With Lions Club members lighting the air strip so a small emergency plane could land and fly Mom and me to Saskatoon, the journey was about to become even more interesting. I survived the first couple weeks in critical care to then discover that I would no longer run or walk.

It is now nearing 28 years since the accident and they have been amazing, wonderful years filled with experiences I never thought possible.

The first thing to do was to fulfill the goal I had set in grade 10. The goal was to become a physical education teacher. With the amazing support of Barb Dorsey and Pat Lawson, getting my physical education degree was accomplished in 1984. In 1985, a bachelor of education was achieved, and becoming a teacher became a reality. Staying in shape was possible by pushing a heavy everyday chair around the track and all over campus.

Paralympic dreams

Hearing about the Paralympics in 1988 piqued my interest. I seriously got into wheelchair racing in 1989. By 1991, I was also made aware of cross country sit-skiing and life as an athlete became much more enjoyable.

My first Paralympic Games started in Albertville, France in 1992. As a rookie it was an interesting experience and I found I had lots to learn. Later that same year Barcelona [Summer Games] occurred and I won two bronze medals in the sprints. It was a busy year of traveling and I had to quit my part-time teaching job in order to compete.

Lillehammer in 1994 would prove to be frustrating with a poorly designed sit-ski and fourth place finishes in the 2.5-kilometre, 5-kilometre, and 10-kilometre races. Improving the sit-ski design became a focus for our small group of Saskatchewan skiers. With the amazing support of Pat Procopchuk, Kaspar Wirz, Jeff Whiting and Joe Harrison, ongoing sled development occurred until 1998. In the meantime, life was busy with wheelchair racing in the summer and skiing in the winter.

While some security and organization issues at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Games proved challenging at times, I managed to leave those Games with two bronze medals. It was nice to be going home from those Games.

Nagano in 1998 would prove to be a turning point for the Paralympic Movement. Fortunately the Japanese people embraced the movement with an energy and enthusiasm that has been hard to duplicate since. With the same Organizing Committee for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, everything ran smoothly. All the venues were sold out and thousands of people packed the Hukaba cross-country stadium. The athletes were treated like superstars and the millions of paper cranes that flowed all over the stadium and around athletes necks will always make these Games memorable in many ways. Finally getting on the podium in the Winter Paralympics with two silver medals, and being chosen to walk the flag out of the Games was a major triumph in my sport career. Interestingly, both Canadian Paralympic and Olympic teams would each see 15 medals on the medal count tally by the end of the Nagano Games.

Sydney would be my last Summer Games. With my passion for wheelchair racing fading, the marathon was about to be my last race. It ended at the 28-kilometre point with the biggest crash in my career. Flying on a downhill with another athlete, I was unable to make the sharp turn and crashed into an aluminum barrier that snapped off the front wheel and had me sliding on my back on the pavement. It was a slow long ride back to the village in an ambulance, and the end of my Summer Paralympic journey.

Change of seasons

With skiing being my passion, all energy soon became focused on winter sport. A special sit-ski was built in Newfoundland for the Salt Lake City Games — it would be lighter but balancing it proved to be very difficult. After breaking lots of skis and poles, making it into fourth place was a highlight.

Receiving corporate sponsorship by being named to Team Visa the year before Torino would be another highlight of my career that I never thought possible. Making commercials and being paid to train provided an extra incentive that got me back on the podium for two bronze medals in the 5 kilometre and 10 kilometre. Walking out with the flag for the last time in my career was an honour and memory I hope the athletes selected in 2010 treasure as much as I have.

For the first time in history, the Paralympic Movement will see Paralympic athletes promoted beside Olympians during commercials for 2010. The movement is gaining momentum and once people get the opportunity to see Paralympians in action they are able to see ability first and foremost.

To all my teammates aiming for 2010, may your hopes and dreams come true in sport and in that other big game called life. All the best. Enjoy the journey. 

Paralympic Perspectives

Paralympic Perspectives is a celebration of the two-year countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. This \series comprises personal stories written by Paralympians and leaders passionate about the Games. Visit vancouver2010.com every weekday from March 12 through March 21 for a new story of personal triumph and fierce competition.

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