Canadian paralympic athlete
André Viger
Viger after his victory in the men's wheelchair division of the 1984 Boston Marathon
Born (1952-09-27 ) September 27, 1952Windsor , Ontario , CanadaDied October 1, 2006(2006-10-01) (aged 54) Sport Paralympic athletics
André Viger , OC CQ (September 27, 1952 – October 1, 2006) was a French Canadian wheelchair marathoner and Paralympian . He took part in five consecutive Summer Paralympic Games in athletics from 1980 to 1996, winning a total of three gold, three silver and four bronze medals.
Biography
Born in Windsor , Ontario , Viger grew up in Sherbrooke , Quebec . He lost the use of his legs following a traffic accident at age 20. He won the men's wheelchair division of the Boston Marathon in 1984, 1986 and 1987. In 1987, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec . In 1989, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for being "a source of encouragement for young athletes and a role model for young people everywhere".[ 1] In 1993, he was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame , and in 2005, the Paralympic Hall of Fame .
After retiring from athletics, he began a career as a businessman and started a wheelchair manufacturing company. He died of cancer on October 1, 2006.[ 2]
In 2013, Viger was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame .[ 3]
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