Canada at the 1972 Summer Paralympics

Athletes at the Paralympics in 1972 were all afflicted by spinal cord injuries and required the use of a wheelchair.[2] This is in contrast to later Paralympics that include events for participants that fit into any of five different disability categories; amputation, either congenital or sustained through injury or illness; cerebral palsy; wheelchair athletes; visual impairment, including blindness; Les autres, any physical disability that does not fall strictly under one of the other categories, for example dwarfism or multiple sclerosis.[3][4] Each Paralympic sport then has its own classifications, dependent upon the specific physical demands of competition. Events are given a code, made of numbers and letters, describing the type of event and classification of the athletes competing.[5]

Canada entered six of its forty competitors, five male and one female in this event.[6] They won no medals at all in this event.[7]

Canada entered thirty five of its forty competitors, twenty three male and twelve female in this event.[8] They won fourteen medals, four gold, six silver, four bronze in this event.[9]

Canada entered fourteen of its forty competitors, nine male and five female in this event.[10] They won two medals, one gold, and one bronze in this event.[11] Demerakas got the bronze, while Wasnock won the gold medal.