Chris Stoddart
In the late 1960s, a new sport emerged in Canada that would change the lives of many people: wheelchair sports.In Life in the Fast Lane, Chris Stoddart recounts the rise of wheelchair racing, with him as one of its pioneers. Born with spina bifida-a condition that affects the development of the spine-Stoddart witnessed the extraordinary transformation of the wheelchair from a heavy and unwieldy functional contraption to a light and sleek design meant for the racetrack.From his beginnings as a wheelchair basketball player to his evolution into a three-time Paralympian and fifty-mile marathon racer, Stoddart shares his life journey as it parallels Canada’s rise in wheelchair sports.With a matter-of-fact but approachable tone, Stoddart shines a light on the many veterans of wheelchair sports who may have been forgotten over the years. Most notably, however, is this athlete’s dedication to people who live with disabilities. During his successful career as an amateur athlete, Stoddart worked for the War Amps of Canada for almost thirty years.Learn about the history of wheelchair racing in Canada, where we stand today, and what we need to do to make sure people with disabilities share the spotlight with able-bodied athletes.
