Garett Hickling

Garett Hickling
Garett Hickling (in red, no. 5) vs USA's Bryan Kirkland, at a wheelchair rugby game.
Date of birth (1970-09-18) 18 September 1970 (age 54)
Place of birthMica Creek, BC
Height6 ft (183 cm)
Occupation(s)full time athlete, former computer technician and machinist
Rugby union career
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Canada

Garett Hickling (born September 18, 1970)[1] is a Canadian wheelchair rugby player. He is on the Canada national wheelchair rugby team and has been voted most valuable player at several World Championships (1995,1998, and 2002). He earned a gold medal from the 2002 World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden; a silver medal from the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, and a bronze medal from 2008 in Beijing, China.[2] He was the Canadian flag-bearer at the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Paralympics.[3] He has competed in every Paralympics that included his sport until his retirement, representing Canada five times.[4]

Hickling broke his neck at age 16 in 1987. He and two friends were hiking an unfamiliar B.C. trail at night when they fell off a cliff; one of the friends died. About five years later, Hickling took up wheelchair rugby.[4]

  1. ^ Athlete Profile - Garett Hickling Archived 2011-10-06 at the Wayback Machine, Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (CWSA), 2006
  2. ^ "Garett Hickling". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee.
  3. ^ "Wheelchair rugby player Hickling named Canada's flag bearer at Paralympics". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. August 26, 2012. Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Wheelchair rugby player Hickling named Canada's flag bearer at Paralympics". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. August 26, 2012. Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.