March 20, 2010 (Whistler, BC) – At every Paralympic since the 1988 Seoul Games, two athletes – one male, one female – have been awarded the prestigious Whang Youn Dai Adversity Award. The recipients are those athletes who exemplify “the spirit of the Paralympic Games” according to Tony Flores, one of the members of the Whang Young Dai committee. “These are athletes who represent the values of the Paralympics, which are determination, inspiration, courage and equality.”

Each country is given the opportunity to nominate their athletes and then the committee pares those selections down to three male and three female athletes whom they interview. For these Games, silver and bronze Nordic skiing medalist Collette Bourgonje has been chosen as the female recipient of this international award. Endo Takayuki, the captain of the Japanese sledge hockey team, is the male recipient.

“This award – that’s the ultimate gold medal,” said Bourgonje after the relay where the women’s team placed fourth. “What a way to go out of the Games. It’s so meaningful, especially when I heard the story of Dr. Whang.”

Dr. Whang was born with polio in South Korea and was told by the principal of the school she lived near that she would have to jump a certain distance in order to attend. She was unable to do so and was barred from attending. But a young boy befriended her and brought the school lessons home to her. He told her someday she would be a doctor. He was right. For the past fifty years Dr. Whang has been in the forefront of advocating on behalf of people with disabilities.

“Collette really represents the basic principles of this award,” says Flores, who becomes emotional when he speaks about what Bourgonje has given to sport. “She really inspires a lot of people – not only the disabled, but everyone around the world. She promotes the Paralympic movement, and she changes people’s lives.” Flores gives one example from Saskatoon when Bourgonje visited two women who had been in a car crash in the hospital. She told them they would recover and be successful. One won a bronze medal in Beijing in 2008 while the other became a teacher.

Flores also points out that Bourgonje is a teacher herself and takes all children – able bodied or disabled – skiing in her hometown of Saskatoon. “She promotes active living. I think it’s very important in this country to promote active living.” Only 3% of people with a disability are presently participating in sport. Flores says with events like the Paralympics and athletes such as Bourgonje to inspire the nation, that number is bound to increase.

In 1980 Bourgonje was involved in a car accident that left her a parapalegic. The Metis athlete, who comes from the same family as Metis leader Gabriel Dumont of Batoche, had been a national level cross-country runner at the time. At the Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney Summer Games she won a total of four bronze medals in wheelchair athletics. Since the 1998 Nagano Winter Games she has won three silver and seven bronze medals in sit-skiing. She is forty-eight years old and as she comments, “has never been faster.” This is Bourgonje’s last Paralympics. She returns to teaching next September and dreams of creating an inclusive Nordic ski venue in Saskatchewan. “I think I’m happiest when I have a challenge,” she says of her next dream.

Bourgonje will receive the award – a 75 gram gold medal – during the closing ceremonies of the Games. It is the highest honour a Paralympic athlete can receive.