The pantheon of Canadian sporting excellence has a new luminary in its ranks. Michelle Stilwell, one of Canada’s most decorated Paralympic athletes, has been named to the Order of Sport Class of 2025, cementing her legacy not just as an athlete, but as a transformative figure in Canadian sport culture.
When Stilwell first wheeled onto the international stage in the early 2000s, few could have predicted the seismic impact she would have on Paralympic sport in Canada. With eight Paralympic medals—including six golds—across two distinct sports, Stilwell’s athletic versatility stands as a testament to her extraordinary determination. Her journey from wheelchair basketball champion to track domination in the T52 classification represents more than athletic achievement; it embodies the spirit of reinvention that defines truly legendary careers.
“Being named to the Order of Sport is humbling,” Stilwell shared in a recent statement. “This recognition represents not just my journey, but the collective effort of coaches, supporters, and every athlete who’s fought to make Paralympic sport more visible.”
What separates Stilwell from many of her contemporaries is her multidimensional impact on Canadian society. Beyond the track, her transition into politics as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in British Columbia from 2013 to 2020 allowed her to advocate for disability rights and inclusive sport policy from within the system. Few athletes have successfully navigated both the intensity of elite competition and the nuanced challenges of public service with such aplomb.
The Order of Sport, Canada’s highest sporting honour, recognizes not merely athletic prowess, but lasting contributions to sport culture and society. Previous inductees represent a cross-section of Canadian sporting royalty—from Wayne Gretzky to Chantal Petitclerc—individuals whose influence transcends competition results. Stilwell’s inclusion acknowledges that Paralympic achievement deserves equal recognition in our national sporting narrative, a perspective that wasn’t always a given in Canadian sport history.
“Michelle’s impact extends far beyond medals,” notes Stephanie Dixon, Chef de Mission for Canada’s Paralympic team at Tokyo 2020. “She’s helped reshape how Canadians perceive disability sport—not as an afterthought, but as a central pillar of our sporting identity.”
The timing of this honour coincides with significant growth in Paralympic sport’s profile in Canada. Television viewership for Paralympic events has surged in recent years, while corporate sponsorship has gradually begun approaching parity with Olympic programming. Athletes like Stilwell have been instrumental in this evolution, using their platforms to challenge outdated perceptions and demand equitable recognition.
What makes Stilwell’s story particularly compelling is its arc of resilience. Following a freak accident at age 17 that left her quadriplegic, she transformed personal tragedy into triumph, eventually becoming the world’s fastest female wheelchair athlete in her classification. Her world records in the 100m, 200m, and 800m T52 events stand as testaments not just to athletic excellence, but to human potential redefined.
As she prepares to accept this prestigious honour next year, Stilwell’s legacy offers a moment for reflection on how far Paralympic sport has come—and how much further it can go. Her induction represents not just personal achievement, but a benchmark in the ongoing journey toward true sport equality in Canadian culture.
For younger Canadians with disabilities, Stilwell’s recognition provides a powerful example of possibility—proof that excellence transcends physical limitation, and that Paralympic achievement deserves our highest national honours. As we continue exploring the evolving landscape of Canadian sport culture at CO24 Culture, figures like Stilwell remind us that true sporting heroes come in many forms, all equally worthy of celebration.
In a sporting world often fixated on narrow definitions of achievement, Michelle Stilwell’s induction into the Order of Sport challenges us to expand our conception of athletic greatness. Her legacy isn’t just about medals won, but boundaries broken—a fitting tribute to an athlete who never acknowledged limitations, whether on the track or beyond it.
