Canadian Paralympic Gold Medallist Chad Jassman hails from Burstall
By Mallory Cawthra
Recently, I was driving past the Town of Burstall, and I noticed a sign saying, “Welcome to Burstall: Home of Canadian Paralympic Gold Medallist – Chad Jassman – Wheelchair Basketball, London, England, 2012.” It sounded impressive and piqued my interest, so I dove deeper into the origin story surrounding Chad Jassman.
I checked out the Wheelchair Basketball Canada website and learned that Chad grew up in Burstall playing many sports – a natural athlete - primarily focussed on hockey, and later became a snowboard instructor at Hidden Valley Ski Resort, while he was enrolled in the aviation program at Medicine Hat College. During that period in 2004 at the age of 20, Chad was involved in a car accident, where he was a passenger. He broke his back and ultimately lost the use of both of his legs, becoming a paraplegic.
The Wheelchair Basketball Canada website explained that Chad decided soon after his injury, “I’m going to join the Paralympics and win a gold medal in wheelchair basketball.” While undergoing four months of rehab in the hospital, he would beg the gym attendant to let him shoot hoops in the gym in his day chair, which helped get him through long days and the uncertainty of the situation. Eventually after playing with the Calgary Grizzlies club team for a while, Chad, nicknamed “Jazzy,” decided to try out for the Team Canada wheelchair basketball team. He didn’t make the team in his first two tryouts, but he didn’t give up and his tenacity ultimately led to him making the team in 2009.
In 2012, Chad went to his first Paralympics in London, England with Team Canada, where they won gold. He had been playing professionally in Europe prior to that, travelling the world and working hard at honing his basketball skills. Chad has competed at three Paralympics and three Parapan American Games since 2012.
Chad’s story is truly inspiring and a great reminder to remain optimistic, even during times of adversity. It’s also a good reminder to remain flexible and be willing to pivot when life throws you a curveball.
