Whitehorse Daily Star

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ACHIEVEMENTS NOT FORGOTTEN – Stephanie Dixon stands beside a sign erected along the local ski trails by the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club in recognition of Dixon’s illustrious career as a Paralympian.

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GOLDEN GRIT – Through her competitive swimming career, Stephanie Dixon won 19 Paralympic medals, establishing several world records along the way. Photo courtesy STEPHANIE DIXON

Dixon receives ultimate recognition for her athletic achievements

In recognition of her stellar career as a Canadian competitive swimmer and Paralympian, Whitehorse resident Stephanie Dixon is being inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

By Chuck Tobin on April 27, 2016

In recognition of her stellar career as a Canadian competitive swimmer and Paralympian, Whitehorse resident Stephanie Dixon is being inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Dixon’s induction along with the induction of six others was announced Tuesday at a press conference in Toronto, though the 32-year-old former coach of the Whitehorse Glacier Bears Swim Club was told about it a couple of months ago.

“I was in awe,” Dixon said today when she learned of her induction. “It is extremely humbling.

“It is just such a huge honour to be amongst those incredible people.”

Raised in Brampton, Ont., Dixon was introduced to the pool at the young age of two by parents who taught their daughter never to let her disability hold her back.

Dixon was taught to pursue her goals and dreams as long as that’s what she wanted to do, no matter what.

That’s what she did.

Born without her right hip, Dixon began competitive swimming at the age of 12.

Four years later at the age of 16, she was on the podium at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games collecting five gold medals and two silver, having set three world records.

Dixon’s outstanding achievements in the pool continued through the 2004 Paralympic games in Athens and in Beijing at the 2008 Paralympic Games.

When she retired in 2010 at the age of 26, Dixon had seven gold Paralympic medals, 10 silver and two bronze, along with seven Parapan American medals, consisting of six gold and one silver. She established 10 world records along the way, two of which still stand today in the short course 100 metre and 200 metre events.

The backstroke, was her strength, and the pool was her home, where she felt the most free.

“My parents let me figure how to do things on my own, and they encouraged me to do it as long as a I liked it,” she said.

Dixon said even after her success in Sydney, she knew there was more.

“I was just always about doing my best.”

And her best she did.

Dixon’s official induction into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame will take place in November, and she’ll be in good company as the Class of 2016 inductees includes:

• Michael “Pinball” Clemons, four-time Grey Cup Champion with the Toronto Argonauts – Football;

• Dr. Frank Hayden, creator of the worldwide Special Olympics Movement, in the Builder category;

• Sue Holloway, four-time Olympian, and the first woman to represent Canada at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in the same year – Kayaking and Cross Country Skiing;

• Colleen Jones, two-time World Champion and youngest skip to ever win a Canadian Women’s Championship – Curling;

• Annie Perreault, three-time Olympian and double Olympic Gold medallist – Speed Skating

• Bryan Trottier, seven-time Stanley Cup winner – Hockey.

“Induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is considered the country’s highest sporting honour and reinforces the incredibly successful athletic careers of the nominees,” says Tuesday’s announcement by the Hall of Fame. “This year’s Class has broken down barriers, blazed new trails, and served as proud international ambassadors for Canadian values.”

Dixon continues to works in Whitehorse as a fitness instructor and a masters swimming coach.

She also an ambassador for the Canadian Paralympic program and maintains her passion for active living and fitness.

Fitness, said Dixon, is important to quality of life, it helps self-esteem shine.

The former Glacier Bears coach was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame in 2013.

In the fall of 2014, the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club erected a sign on the Olympic ski trail in recognition of Dixon’s record achievements at the three Paralympics she competed in.

Dixon was also chosen as Canada’s assistant chef de mission for the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto last summer.

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