Canada announces new Paralympic high performance athlete development advisor

By Gary Anderson

September 3 - The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) today announced the appointment of Jean-François Rapatel as its first ever Paralympic high performance athlete development advisor, to help boost Canada's medal haul at future Games.

The CPC hope that the creation of this new role, in partnership with Own the Podium (OTP) - an organisation that prioritises and determines investment strategies to Canada's national sport organisations - and the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (CSI Pacific), will build on and develop Canada's current Parasport system with the ultimate goal of increasing the country's medal count at future summer and winter Paralympic Games.

"I'm really excited about this new partnership between OTP and CPC and CSI Pacific," said Rapatel, who is originally from Montreal, but will be based in Victoria.

"I'm looking forward to working with all three organisations in moving Paralympic sport forward to make Canada the world's leading Paralympic nation."

Rapatel, whose background is in winter sports, will work with targeted Paralympic sports on developing gold medal profiles to identify talented athletes with strong medal prospects, along with developing clear pathways to achieve these aims.

Vancouver 2010 women's visually impaired super combined silver medallists Viviane Forest and Lindsay Debou benifited from working under Jean-François Rapatel

"This new role will deepen Canada's competitive prospects internationally in Paralympic sport and ensure that we continue to advance," said Rob Needham, executive director of sport for the CPC.

"We're thrilled to be working with our sport partners on this enhancement to the Paralympic sport system.

"Jean-François brings a proven track record in long term athlete development and talent identification."

The bilingual Rapatel has an impressive record in winter sports, in particular alpine skiing, where through his previous role as high performance director of Para-Alpine at Alpine Canada he helped oversee the best ever performance by Canadian skiers at a Paralympic Games when they won 13 of Canada's 19 medals at Vancouver 2010.

He has also been director, coach and athlete development officer at Alpine Canada, and holds an M.A. in Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa and a B.S.c in Physical Education specialising in Kinesiology from the University of Montreal.

Josh Dueck celebrates his silver medal in the men's sitting slalom at Vancouver 2010

"This is a very important opportunity for athletes with disabilities across the country," said Wendy Pattenden, chief executive officer of CSI Pacific.

"The Paralympic high performance athlete development advisor will help to ensure our Paralympians can compete and win against the best in the world."

The CPC also announced that a second Paralympic high performance athlete development advisor will be appointed at a later date, and will be based in Toronto.

"Own the Podium, Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and the Canadian Paralympic Committee have combined our efforts towards developing a high-performance athlete development plan focused on growing the talent pool of Para-athletes, with the ultimate goal of creating more Paralympic champions for Canada," said Anne Merklinger, chief executive officer of Own the Podium, which was launched in January 2005.

"The employment of a Paralympic high-performance athlete development advisor is a critical first step taken towards accomplishing our collective goals and growing Parasport across the country."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]

Related Stories
July 2013: Canadian Paralympic Committee announce Mission Staff appointments for Sochi 2014
May 2013: Olympic chief welcomes new Canadian Paralympic Committee President Tardif
May 2013: Tardif elected new Canadian Paralympic Committee President
April 2013: Canadian Paralympic Committee appoint new chief executive
January 2013: Canadian Paralympic Committee invites applications for new funding to boost disability sport