Robert Hedges

Started: He began the sport aged 15 in Fort St. John, BC, Canada. (Athlete, 23 Jun 2016) Reason: After his accident he wanted to continue to play sport and basketball was the only one he could play with his brothers and friends. "This path wheelchair basketball has led me on, first to help my transition into continuing to play sports, and from there to getting my education and seeing Canada, North America, and the world, has made all the difference." (Athlete, 23 Jun 2016; alaskahighwaynews.ca, 15 Oct 2019) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (paralympic.ca, 10 Apr 2024, 11 Apr 2024; cbc.ca, 14 Apr 2024) Awards: He was named the Most Valuable Player [MVP] at the 2023 Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League [CWBL] National Championship in Richmond, British Columbia. (wheelchairbasketball.ca, 16 May 2023) In 2013 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. (wheelchairbasketball.ca, 12 Aug 2012) In 2012 he received the Canadian Wheelchair Sport Association Stan Stronge Award for exceptional commitment to wheelchair sport and the community. (wheelchairbasketball.ca, 12 Aug 2012) In 2011 he was named the British Colombia Wheelchair Basketball Society [BCWBS] Male Athlete of the Year and won the MJ Boudreault True Sport Award for dedication to sport, training, leadership and competitive drive. (wheelchairbasketball.ca, 12 Aug 2012) He was named the Canada Wheelchair Basketball Male Player of the Year in 2009 and 2011. (alaskahighwaynews.ca, 29 May 2012, wheelchairbasketball.ca, 14 Aug 2012) In 2010 he was named Canada Wheelchair Basketball Athlete of the Year. (wheelchairbasketball.ca, 14 Aug 2012) Additional Info: NUDE PHOTOSHOOT In 2016 he was one of 12 Toronto locals to take part in a nude photo shoot for NOW magazine's 'Love Your Body' issue. He says he stepped out of his comfort zone to be part of the shoot but hoped that would inspire others to be confident about their body image. "Before my accident, I didn't think about my body that much. I grew up on a ranch, climbing trees and riding horses. My body was just a means for having fun and a tool for completing tasks. After my accident, my perception of how I use my body changed, but eventually I realised I could do all those same things, especially when it came to sports. I just had to adapt. If I can show that I'm comfortable in my own skin, maybe it will inspire society to become comfortable with more atypical disabled bodies. To that end, when people see me competing at a high level and then getting into my day chair to do interviews, I hope I'm bridging the gap and helping them understand the capabilities of people with disabilities." (people.com, 19 Jan 2016) DOCUMENTARY Ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo his life was documented by a film crew as part of a documentary entitled 'Dream Big: Fort St. John to Tokyo'. The film profiles his career as a whole, with specific focus on his life and routine building towards the 2020 Paralympic Games. (christinesutherland.com, 12 Dec 2018; alaskahighwaynews.ca, 15 Oct 2019) FURTHER EDUCATION He studied for a master's degree in sport management at the University of Alabama in the United States of America. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Apr 2016)