August 28, 2012

Cowichan athlete at Paralympic Games

Aboriginal Wheelchair Athlete Set to Burnish Career With Gold at Paralympic Games in London

By Sam LaskarisRichard Peter is hoping to finish off his international career with even more hardware than he already has—and he’s already toting plenty. Peter, a member of British Columbia’s Cowichan Tribes, is a veteran on the Canadian national men’s wheelchair basketball team.

He’s in England preparing for this year’s Paralympic Games, which will be staged August 29 through September 9 in London. As world attention winds down from the 2012 Summer Olympics, which ended on August 12, their host city has been busily preparing for yet another sports spectacular. For Peter, a Vancouver resident who will turn 40 the day after these games end, this will mark the swan song of his lengthy international career.

It will be Peter’s fifth Paralympic Games. And he’s already got three medals to show for his efforts. Peter helped Canada win gold at the 2000 and 2004 games, staged in Sydney, Australia and Athens, Greece, respectively. He was also a member of the Canadian squad that captured the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. Peter would love to conclude his hoops career with another performance, one that lands him and his teammates on the podium.
Comment:  For more on Natives and the Olympics, see Thorpe Still the Greatest Olympian and Boxer Criticized for Wearing Aboriginal T-Shirt.

2 comments:

Rob said...

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/09/17/cowichan-tribe-member-richard-peter-wins-gold-at-paralympic-games

Cowichan Tribe Member Richard Peter Wins Gold at Paralympic Games

Richard Peter is going out on top. Peter, who turned 40 on Sept. 10, has reaffirmed his intentions to stop playing on the international wheelchair basketball scene. Peter’s proclamation to retire comes on the heels of him winning yet another Paralympic medal. He was a member of the Canadian squad that captured the gold medal at this year’s Paralympics in London, England.

Canada defeated Australia 64-58 in the championship match held on Sept. 8.

Rob said...

For more on the subject, see:

http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674aboriginal_wheelchair_champ_inspires_iqaluit_youth/

Aboriginal wheelchair champ inspires Iqaluit youth

“You just keep working hard and making small steps”


Kids from Iqaluit’s basketball association took turns trying out a sports wheelchair that belongs to four-time paralympian Richard “Bear” Peter inside the Nakasuk School gym Feb. 20.

Peter visited Iqaluit Feb. 20 and Feb. 21 as part of “Paralympics in the School” week.

That attempt to raise awareness about paralympians and sports sent paralympic athletes traveled to different regions in Canada to give speeches to kids and play sports with them.

“It’s been great. I always have a lot of fun sharing some of my stories, showing my medals,” said Peter of his visit to Iqaluit.