Hamilton introduces its torchbearers for Pan Am games

Hamilton's competitive swimming athlete, Alex Parent, doesn't let the loss of his leg stop him from living his life.

"I couldn't tell you exactly how I got here, but I'm humbled that I am," said Parent, as he was introduced as one of a number of champions of Hamilton's sports and culture communities selected to be community torchbearers for the Pan Am Games. He and the others were introduced at a ceremony at city Hall Thursday.

A loss of a leg might seem like a big deal, and it is, but attitude is everything. You can control what happens next.- Alex Parent

Losing his leg at the age of five to osteosarcoma, a common cancer, didn't pose any barriers for him. "I didn't really know what the word 'can't' meant, it was just a matter of 'where do I go from here,'" said Parent.

As part of recovery, he took up swimming and stuck with it ever since. He placed third in the 50 metre freestyle race at the 2012 Paralympic trials, and competed on several national teams representing Canada, which took him to two international world competitions.
After recently graduating from McMaster with a degree in Environmental Science, he is focusing all his energy on coaching and personal training.

Now at 25-years-old, he currently coaches swimmers ages 18 and up with the Ancaster Masters, and he hopes it will lead to coaching a University team.

Plans to practice

To get ready for the big day carrying the torch, Parent said prepping is definitely needed.

"There's always that fear of falling and dropping the torch. So I'm going to be practicing and getting used to the run," he said.

"Thankfully it's only 200 metres."

Parent said he feels honoured to have this opportunity.

"I hope this can help show that disabilities aren't really as disabling as they appear," said Parent.

"A loss of a leg might seem like a big deal, and it is, but attitude is everything. You can control what happens next."

He said the ParaPan Games and the Paralympics are two events that are slowly gaining their deserved momentum and popularity, and they are there for those kinds of athletes to utilize.

"I think that what I would like anyone with any sort of disability or amputation to take home from this is that sport isn't just for one person it's for everyone."

The other members of the community joining Parent as torchbearers are:

• Local running luminary and running shop owner Esther Pauls
• Lacrosse star born in Six Nations, Johnny Powless
• Lloyd Turner, a veteran community builder and convener of Canada Day celebrations whom the city says brings "the uncommon voices" to conversations
• Melvin Hawkrigg, a former Hamilton Tiger Cat and member of several McMaster athletic teams before becoming chancellor of the university
• Cyclist Susan Palmer-Komar, who won a silver medal for Team Canada at the Pan Am Games and also competed in the Olympics in Atlanta
• Runner and CHML personality Ted Michaels who advocates for mental health issues
• Lloyd Turner, one of the longest serving members of Hamilton's Folk Arts Council, and an active leader for the African Canadian Caribbean Association of Hamilton.
• Adrian Strassburger, 14, a Kitchener, Ont native, represent Hamilton after receiving care from McMaster Children's Hospital at 11-years-old when diagnosed with megacolon syndrome.
• Alex Cherney, WWII veteran, principal, teacher.