Biographical Notes |
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World-record holder
World-record holder for the wheelchair 200 meters and 400 meters, Dean Bergeron is a prime example of courage, perseverance and determination.
Born in Saguenay (formerly La Baie), Quebec on February 12, 1969, Dean quickly demonstrated a remarkable passion for all sports, especially hockey. At age 17, with a brilliant future ahead, he joined the Shawinigan Cataractes, a team belonging to Quebec's Major Junior Hockey League. The year after, however, his life changed forever when a training accident left him quadriplegic.
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Perseverance and motivation
After undergoing physiotherapy and social rehabilitation treatment, Dean attended Laval University despite being confined to a wheelchair. In 1992, he received an undergraduate degree in actuarial science; two years later, he joined Desjardins Financial Security as an actuary.
While still at university, Dean became re-acquainted with sports; in 1989, he began training as a wheelchair athlete, continuing off and on until 1992, when he was bitten again by the competition 'bug'.
Since then, Dean has participated in several world and Canadian championships, as well as the 1996, 2000, 2004 Paralympics in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, respectively, setting records and bringing home a number of medals. He'll be representing Canada once more at the Paralympic Games in Beijing this summer.
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