Shelley Gautier nominated for Laureus sportsperson with a disability award
Canadian para-cyclist Shelley Gautier has been nominated for the highly prestigious international Laureus Sportsperson with a Disability award. Toronto’s Gautier is a five-time world champion in the tricycle T1 class, a silver medallist at the Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games and a London 2012 Paralympian. The 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards take place in Shanghai, China on April 15.
Greg Mathieu, the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of Cycling Canada, said, “We are delighted to hear that Shelley has been nominated for this highly prestigious award. Gautier has persevered many years to become a World-class athlete and multiple time World Champion. She has inspired many in Canada to reach their goals and accomplish their dreams. We couldn’t be prouder of all the accomplishment she boasts throughout her short yet fruitful career as a para-cyclist.”
Laureus celebrates sporting excellence and the power of sport to promote social change. Its motto is Sport for Good. Gautier is the only Canadian nominated this year in six award categories, and only one other Canadian has been nominated in the fifteen years of the awards–wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc in 2003.
Gautier was named 2014 Female Cyclist of the Year by the Ontario Cycling Association and is training for the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Gaétan Tardif, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, said, “Shelley is not only leading the world in her cycling events, she is also a wonderful ambassador for Paralympic sport. She continually engages new athletes and new coaches to create even more opportunities for athletes with a disability. Congratulations to Shelley on this well-deserved honour.”
Gautier became a a hemiplegic with paralysis on one side of the body after a 2001 head injury from a mountain biking accident put her in a six week coma. A practicing physiotherapist, she was able to apply her knowledge and experience to her recovery. Back on the bike within a year, she was racing 50-km by 2007.
