Sask. Sports Hall of Fame pays tribute to spirit and success of local Paralympians

As 10 Saskatchewan Paralympians are competing in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, one museum is keeping the Paralympic spirit — past and present — front of mind, while showing how much para-sport has grown. 

"Every Paralympics, we are sending more and more of our talented homegrown athletes and coaches, as well, and support staff," said Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) curator Bryann Olenick. 

"[We're] kind of capturing that wider-scale transition of how much attention is being put towards Paralympians."

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The items on display are from Saskatchewan's Paralympians over the decades. 

They include a pair of gloves from Rick Reelie, a Paralympian in wheelchair racing, and Paralympic medals on loan from Colette Bourgonje, a wheelchair racer who was inducted into the SSHF in 2021. 

A trophy and Paralympic medals won by wheelchair athlete Clayton Gerein are also on display.

Gerein, who died in 2010, competed in seven Paralympics across multiple sports and was inducted into the SSHF in 2011.

He also mentored other athletes, including Moose Jaw's Lisa Franks. The duo met when Franks was in the hospital recovering from a spinal cord injury. Gerein gave Franks guidance on wheelchair racing and coached her through wheelchair basketball across three Paralympic Games. 

Now, visitors to the SSHF can see a wheelchair that is comparable to the one Franks used during her time in wheelchair basketball. 

Olenick said showcasing the types of items used at Paralympic Games is a key part of the display. 

"It gives any visitors a chance to just kind of tangibly see the equipment that the Paralympians are working with, which is quite unique, obviously, compared with the Olympians they might have watched this past Olympics." 

If this year's Paralympians, or their family members, have memorabilia they want to see enshrined, Olenick said that while the SSHF is limited in terms of how much space it has to store items, there is a process people can follow to donate items. 

"Basically, I would be working one on one with the inquirer to see if we already have those items in our collection, comparing with our collections mandate, [to check] if our facility is the most suitable place to host them, and if they're items that we see great value in kind of capturing that sport history, ones that can maybe go on display," Olenick said.

The Olympic and Paralympic display is available for viewing at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in Regina until October, with an interruption from Sept. 18-27 as the hall prepares to induct its newest class of athletes.