/ en /news/world-class-wheelchair-racer-joins-u-ts-2015-honorary-degree-recipients <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">World-class wheelchair racer joins ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥'s 2015 honorary degree recipients</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-04-24T10:40:24-04:00" title="Friday, April 24, 2015 - 10:40" class="datetime">Fri, 04/24/2015 - 10:40</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/more-news" hreflang="en">More News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/wheelchair-racer" hreflang="en">wheelchair racer</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/honorary-degree" hreflang="en">Honorary Degree</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation" hreflang="en">Convocation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/chantal-petitclerc" hreflang="en">chantal petitclerc</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Chantal Petitclerc set to speak at June 12 convocation</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p> One of the world's most celebrated paralympic athletes will&nbsp;join&nbsp;the ranks of honorary degree recipients at the University of Toronto's convocation ceremonies this year.</p> <p> Fourteen-time Paralympic Games gold medalist Chantal Petitclerc takes the stage at the June 12 ceremony, sharing her story of inspiration with&nbsp;students graduating from the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education. (<a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/machel-roberto-benigni-paul-volcker-among-those-receive-honorary-degrees-u-t">Read more about this year's honorary degree recipients</a>.)</p> <p> At the age of 13, Petitclerc&nbsp;lost the use of her legs following an accident. In high school she took up&nbsp;swimming to develop her strength and stamina,&nbsp;and fell in love with sport. Four years later, she discovered wheelchair athletics, paving the way for a long and very successful career that took her to five Paralympic Games (Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing).</p> <p> Petitclerc is the only Canadian athlete to have won gold medals at the Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games. &nbsp;Her record of achievement includes:</p> <ul> <li> 21 Paralympic medals (including 14 gold medals)</li> <li> 3 world records (200m, 400m and 800m)</li> <li> 4 Paralympic records (200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m)</li> <li> 1 Olympic gold medal (800m demonstration sport)</li> </ul> <p> She is also a companion of the Order of Canada and an ambassador for Right to Play, a global organization that uses sport to educate&nbsp;and empower&nbsp;children and youth.</p> <p> <a href="http://www.convocation.utoronto.ca/">Visit the convocation website for the latest event updates.</a></p> <p> &nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-04-22_chantal petitclerc.jpg</div> </div> Fri, 24 Apr 2015 14:40:24 +0000 sgupta 6971 at