Martha Gustafson

Martha Sandoval Gustafson (born January 8, 1950) is a Mexican-Canadian Paralympic medallist in table tennis, swimming, and athletics. As a Mexican Paralympian, Gustafson won a total of twelve medals, which includes three golds at the 1976 Summer Paralympics and two golds and the 1980 Summer Paralympics. After she moved to Canada in 1981, Gustafson won six golds and one silver at the 1984 Summer Paralympics for Canada. In 2020, Gustafson became part of the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame.

Martha Gustafson
Personal information
Full nameMartha Sandoval Gustafson
Born (1950-01-08) January 8, 1950
Tampico, Mexico
Height145 cm (4 ft 9 in)
Weight60 kg (132 lb)
Sport
Country Mexico (1976–1980)
 Canada (1984–)
Disability classF52
Medal record
Paralympic Games
Table tennis
Silver medal – second place1976 TorontoSingles 1C
Swimming
Gold medal – first place1980 Arnhem25 m backstroke 1B
Gold medal – first place1980 Arnhem25 m freestyle 1B
Gold medal – first place1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville25 m Freestyle 1B
Silver medal – second place1976 Toronto25 m backstroke 1B
Silver medal – second place1976 Toronto25 m breaststroke 1B
Silver medal – second place1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville25 m Backstroke 1B
Athletics
Gold medal – first place1976 Toronto60 m 1B
Gold medal – first place1976 TorontoClub throw 1B
Gold medal – first place1976 TorontoDiscus throw 1B
Gold medal – first place1980 ArnhemDiscus throw 1B
Gold medal – first place1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville100 m 1A
Gold medal – first place1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville200 m 1A
Gold medal – first place1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville400 m 1A
Gold medal – first place1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville800 m 1A
Gold medal – first place1984 New York/Stoke MandevilleDiscus throw 1B
Silver medal – second place1980 Arnhem60 m 1B
Silver medal – second place1980 ArnhemShot put 1B
Silver medal – second place1980 ArnhemClub throw 1B

Early life and education

Gustafson was born in Tampico, Mexico on January 8, 1950. When she was a child, she became sick with polio and required the use of wheelchair. Gustafson played various sports throughout her childhood including curling and shot put.[1] In 1981, she moved from Mexico to Toronto, Canada.[2]

Career

Gustafson played in various sports throughout her career including swimming, table tennis and athletics for both Mexico and Canada.[3] For Mexico, Martha Sandoval competed at the 1976 Summer Paralympics and 1980 Summer Paralympics, winning a combined total of six gold and six silver.[4] Alternatively, Martha Gustafson represented Canada at the 1984 Summer Paralympics, where she won six golds and one silver.[5][6] For the 1988 Summer Paralympics, Gustafson won no medals in her three athletic events for Canada.[7] Overall, she won one Paralympic medal in table tennis, six in athletics, and twelve in swimming.[6]

Apart from the Paralympics, Gustafson won bronze in shot put at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships with a Championship Record of 3.45 metres.[8] She also competed in the discus at that event and placed fourth.[7] That same year, she won gold in shot put at the 2011 Canadian Track and Field Championships.[9] A few years later, Gustafson came in 8th place in discus and 5th place in shot put at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships.[10][7]

In 2016, Gustafson won silver at the 2016 Canadian Track and Field Championships in discus.[11] For her 2019 events, Gustafson was seventh at the discus event during the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships.[12] In the 2019 Parapan American Games, Gustafson won bronze in the discus.[13]

Honors and personal life

Gustafson was a nominee for the Female Athlete With a Disability of the Year award at the 2010 and 2011 Ontario Sports Awards.[14][15] In 2015, Martha Sandoval Gustafson was nominated for the Female Field Para Athlete award for Athletics Ontario.[16] In 2020, Gustafson was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame.[17] That year, she was named the 2021 Bob Secord Award recipient from ParaSport Ontario.[18] Gustafson was married and had one child.[19]

References
  1. King, Robin Levinson (August 15, 2015). "Toronto's Panamania comes to an end at Parapan Am closing ceremony". Toronto Star. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  2. "Thirty years of Athletic Passion and Perseverance". Variety Village Annual Report 2011 (PDF) (Report). Variety Village. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  3. Skinner, Justin (August 11, 2015). "Six Toronto athletes tell their stories in PUSH! at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts". Inside Toronto. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  4. "Martha Sandoval". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  5. "M. Gustafson". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  6. "Martha Sandoval Gustafson". Canadian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  7. "Martha Gustafson". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  8. "Three World Records on Second Morning of IPC Athletics World Championships". World Para Athletics. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  9. Heinen, Laurence (June 25, 2011). "Felicien, Armstrong come up big at Canadian track and field championship". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  10. Becky, Brent. "Lakatos with Gold; Richter with Silver on day 2 of 2013 IPC World Championship". Paralympic.ca. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  11. "Wheelchair racer Curtis Thom shines in return to nationals". The Mississauga. July 13, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  12. "Dubai 2019 Results Results - Women's Discus Throw F53 Final". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  13. "Gustafson Martha S". Lima 2019 ParaPan-Am Games. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  14. "2010 Ontario Sport Awards". swimontario.com. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  15. Christie, James (April 13, 2011). "Top Ontario athletes up for awards". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  16. "Para Athlete Award Finalists Announced". Athletics Ontario. September 12, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  17. "Previous Hall of Fame Inductees". The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  18. "Martha Sandoval Gustafson Wins Bob Secord Award". ParaSport Ontario. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  19. Davidson, James (July 13, 1985). "Romance, medals all in one package". The Globe and Mail. p. S2.
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