Michael Edgson

Born in North Vancouver on 6 May 1969, Edgson moved to Nanaimo at a young age.[2] He played ice hockey, soccer, and gymnastics but found that his visual impairment did not negatively affect him in swimming as it might in other sports and began swimming competitively at the age of eleven.[3][4]

He has competed internationally in both disability and able-bodied swimming events from age 14.[3][4]

Edgson set nine world records during a career that lasted twelve years.[3] With 18 Paralympic gold medals Edgson is one of the most successful Canadian athletes of all time.[2][3] He is a three-time recipient of the BC Disabled Athlete of the Year Award and was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame in 2006.[6] In 2009 Edgson became the first Paralympian to be honoured with a place in Swimming Canada's Circle of Excellence.[2] In 2013, he was inducted in to the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame[7] and in 2015 he was named to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.[8]

At the 1984 Summer Paralympics in Long Island Edgson won five medals (four gold and one silver) and set four new records. His most successful haul came four years later in Gothenburg when he won nine events.[3] He was chosen to carry the Canadian flag at the closing ceremony.[4] Edgson went on to win four more gold medals and a silver in 1992 in Barcelona.[3]

After retiring from international competition Edgson became the finance director for the Canadian Paralympic Committee.[2]