Mel_Fitzgerald

Mel Fitzgerald

Mel Fitzgerald

Canadian Paralympic athlete (1953–2023)

Melvin Leo Fitzgerald CM (20 July 1953 – 2 October 2023) was a Canadian Paralympic athlete.[1][2]

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Biography

Fitzgerald was born in Trepassey, Newfoundland in July 1953.[3] He competed in athletics in the 1980 and 1984 Paralympics, winning eight medals. He used a wheelchair since the age of two, when he was afflicted with polio.[4] He was named a Member of the Order of Canada (CM) in 1982,[5] and in 2018 was inducted into the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association Hall of Fame.[6]

On 2 October 2023, Fitzgerald died from cardiovascular disease in New Zealand, where he had been living. He was 70.[2]

References

  1. [1]
    Hawthorn, Tom (12 October 2023). "Champion wheelchair racer Mel Fitzgerald advocated for people with disabilities". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  2. [2]
    Sheppard, Noah. "Gold Medal-Winning Paralympian, Mel Fitzgerald, Passes Away". VOCM. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Canadians sweep". The Leader-Post. 30 July 1984. p. 18. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  4. [4]
    "Fitzgerald an inspiration to handicapped athletes". The Leader-Post. 10 January 1981. p. 41. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  5. [5]
    "Mr. Mel Fitzgerald".
  6. [6]
    "N.L. athletes inducted into Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association Hall of Fame | SaltWire".
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