Canadian wheelchair rugby legend Garett Pickling has died at 54, the Canadian Paralympic Committee shared on Tuesday, June 24.
The 麻豆精选 native was a leader and trailblazer for the sport on and off the court, participating in five Paralympic Games, winning three silver medals (1996, 2004, 2012) and one bronze (2008). He was also Team Canada's Opening Ceremony flag bearer for the London 2012 games.
At world championships events, Pickling helped Canada win silver in 1995, bronze in 1998, and gold in 2002.
After his playing career, he continued to coach at multiple levels in Toronto. In 2024, he was an assistant coach for Canada's wheelchair rugby team at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
鈥�Garett is a wheelchair rugby legend, a true warrior out there,鈥� said former Canadian head coach Patrick C么t茅 to Wheelchair Rugby Canada at Hickling鈥檚 in 2017. 鈥淏eing so dominant in a sport for so many years demonstrates how tough he was.鈥疭imply put, he was one of the greatest players of all time.鈥�
Pickling was introduced into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2015, Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame in 2017, and Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2019.
