Mel Fitzgerald
 Fitzgerald (right) is congratulated after winning the 800 meters, 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 20 July 1953 Trepassey, Newfoundland, Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 2 October 2023 (aged 70) New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics, Wheelchair racing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Melvin Leo Fitzgerald CM (20 July 1953 – 2 October 2023) was a Canadian Paralympic athlete.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ Hawthorn, Tom (12 October 2023). "Champion wheelchair racer Mel Fitzgerald advocated for people with disabilities". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b Sheppard, Noah. "Gold Medal-Winning Paralympian, Mel Fitzgerald, Passes Away". VOCM. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Canadians sweep". The Leader-Post. 30 July 1984. p. 18. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- ^ "Fitzgerald an inspiration to handicapped athletes". The Leader-Post. 10 January 1981. p. 41. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- ^ "Mr. Mel Fitzgerald".
- ^ "N.L. athletes inducted into Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association Hall of Fame | SaltWire".
Categories:
- 1953 births
- 2023 deaths
- Medalists at the 1980 Summer Paralympics
- Medalists at the 1984 Summer Paralympics
- Paralympic gold medalists for Canada
- Paralympic silver medalists for Canada
- Paralympic bronze medalists for Canada
- Paralympic medalists in athletics (track and field)
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1980 Summer Paralympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Paralympics
- Paralympic track and field athletes for Canada
- Canadian male wheelchair racers
- Sportspeople from Newfoundland and Labrador
- Deaths from cardiovascular disease
- Members of the Order of Canada