Mike Whitehead

Started: He began playing wheelchair rugby in 2000. (cwsa.ca, 21 Feb 2012) Reason: He was inspired to take up the sport after being visited by Canadian wheelchair rugby players while he was a patient at the Parkwood Rehabilitation Hospital in London, ON, Canada. (paralympic.ca, 2015) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (windsor.ctvnews.ca, 05 Mar 2022) Milestones: He is one of five players [along with Patrice Dagenais, Trevor Hirschfield, Zak Madell and Travis Murao] named to Canada's 2024 Paralympic team that were also part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2012 Games in London. Whitehead is the only member of the 2024 squad that also took part in Canada's silver medal-winning wheelchair rugby campaign from Athens 2004. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Jul 2024) Awards: He has been inducted into the Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Hall of Fame. (paralympic.ca, 01 Sep 2019) He was named Most Valuable Player [MVP] at the 2010 Canadian Championships. (2010WWRC, 08 Jul 2010) Additional Info: COACHING He coached the Canadian wheelchair rugby team at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, ON, Canada, and the 2021 Low Point Tournament in Switzerland. (paralympic.ca, 18 Oct 2023) OTHER ACTIVITIES He has been an intern with the Canadian Paralympic Committee's Performance and Pathways team. He was elected to the Canadian Paralympic Committee Athletes' Council in December 2020. He has also been involved in the Soldier On programme of the Canadian Armed Forces [CAF], which helps injured veterans get involved in sport. "It's all about adapting and overcoming from an injury or illness. We do that through sport. Sport leads to recovery. It's changed my life because I can see what sport can do. Sport skills are life skills. I like to share that." (paralympic.ca, 18 Oct 2023; nmymca.org, 08 Feb 2021; insidethegames.biz, 14 Dec 2020) OCCUPATION He has worked for VESCO Metalcraft, measuring athletes for rugby wheelchairs. (paralympic.ca, 2016)