André Viger

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.

André Viger
Viger after his victory in the men's wheelchair division of the 1984 Boston Marathon
Personal information
Born(1952-09-27)September 27, 1952
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
DiedOctober 1, 2006(2006-10-01) (aged 54)
Sport
SportParalympic athletics
Medal record
Paralympic athletics
Representing  Canada
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place1984 Stoke MandevilleMarathon 3
Gold medal – first place1988 SeoulMarathon 3
Gold medal – first place1992 Barcelona10,000m TW3-4
Silver medal – second place1988 Seoul10,000m 3
Silver medal – second place1992 Barcelona4x100m relay TW3-4
Silver medal – second place1992 Barcelona4x400m relay TW3-4
Bronze medal – third place1980 Arnhem4x100m relay 2-5
Bronze medal – third place1984 Stoke Mandeville1500m 3
Bronze medal – third place1988 Seoul800m 3
Bronze medal – third place1988 Seoul5000m 3

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]

References
  1. Order of Canada citation
  2. CBC news story of his death
  3. Class of 2013 Inductees Archived 2013-04-22 at the Wayback Machine


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