Martha Gustafson

Martha Sandoval Gustafson (born January 8, 1950) is a Mexican-Canadian Paralympic medallist in table tennis, swimming, and athletics. As a Mexican Paralympian, Gustafson won a total of twelve medals, which includes three golds at the 1976 Summer Paralympics and two golds and the 1980 Summer Paralympics. After she moved to Canada in 1981, Gustafson won six golds and one silver at the 1984 Summer Paralympics for Canada.

Martha Gustafson
Personal information
Full nameMartha Sandoval Gustafson
Born (1950-01-08) January 8, 1950
Tampico, Mexico
Height145 cm (4 ft 9 in)
Weight60 kg (132 lb)
Sport
Country Mexico (1976–1980)
 Canada (1984–)
Disability classF52

Early life and education

Gustafson was born in Tampico, Mexico on January 8, 1950. When she was a child, she became sick with polio and required the use of wheelchair. Gustafson played various sports throughout her childhood including curling and shot put.[1] In 1981, she moved from Mexico to Toronto.[2]

Career

Gustafson played in various sports throughout her career including swimming, table tennis and athletics for both Mexico and Canada.[3] For Mexico, Gustafson competed at the 1976 Summer Paralympics and 1980 Summer Paralympics. She won over ten medals representing Mexico, 6 of them being gold.[2] Alternatively, Gustafson represented Canada at the 1984 Summer Paralympics and the 1988 Summer Paralympics. She won seven Paralympic medals for Canada in 1984 and no medals in 1988.[4][5]

Apart from the Paralympics, Gustafson won bronze in shot put at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships with a Championship Record of 3.45 metres.[6] She also competed in the discus at that event and placed fourth.[4] That same year, she won gold in shot put at the 2011 Canadian Track and Field Championships.[7] A few years later, Gustafson came in 8th place in discus and 5th place in shot put at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships.[8][9] In 2016, Gustafson won silver at the 2016 Canadian Track and Field Championships in discus.[10] For her 2019 events, Gustafson was seventh at the discus event during the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships.[11] In the 2019 Parapan American Games, Gustafson won bronze in the discus.[12]

Honors and achievements

Gustafson was a nominee for the Female Athlete With a Disability of the Year award at the 2010 and 2011 Ontario Sports Awards.[13][14]

References
  1. King, Robin Levinson (August 15, 2015). "Toronto's Panamania comes to an end at Parapan Am closing ceremony". Toronto Star. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  2. "Thirty years of Athletic Passion and Perseverance" (PDF). Variety Village. p. 8. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  3. Skinner, Justin (August 11, 2015). "Six Toronto athletes tell their stories in PUSH! at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts". Inside Toronto. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  4. "Athlete Bio". paralympics.org. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  5. "Martha Gustafson". Canadian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  6. "Three World Records on Second Morning of IPC Athletics World Championships". World Para Athletics. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  7. Heinen, Laurence (June 25, 2011). "Felicien, Armstrong come up big at Canadian track and field championship". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  8. Becky, Brent. "Lakatos with Gold; Richter with Silver on day 2 of 2013 IPC World Championship". Paralympic.ca. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  9. "Martha Gustafson". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  10. "Wheelchair racer Curtis Thom shines in return to nationals". The Mississauga. July 13, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  11. "Dubai 2019 Results Results - Women's Discus Throw F53 Final". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  12. "Gustafson Martha S". Lima 2019 ParaPan-Am Games. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  13. "2010 Ontario Sport Awards". swimontario.com. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  14. Christie, James (April 13, 2011). "Top Ontario athletes up for awards". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
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