On This Day

Rick Hansen

Athlete

Born: Canadian

Richard Marvin Hansen is a Canadian track and field athlete (Paralympic Games and Olympic Games), activist, and philanthropist for people with disabilities. When Rick was 15, he was riding in the back of a pickup truck after a fishing trip with his friend, when the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled over. Hansen was trapped on the inside of the roll and thrown to the ground, along with the equipment from the truck. As a result of the crash, Hansen broke his back, sustained a spinal cord injury and became paralyzed from the waist down.

Hansen is most famous for his Man In Motion World Tour, in which he circled the globe in a wheelchair to demonstrate the potential of people with disabilities if barriers were removed. It was also to raise money to support the removal of additional barriers for people with disabilities in the future. He was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He was one of the final torchbearers in the 1988 Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics. He was profiled and spoke during the 2010 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony.

Notable For

Canadian athlete who traveled the globe in 1987

Rick Hansen's Historical Timeline

  1. Rick Hansen is born

    Rick Hansen, Canadian athlete, known for canadian athlete who traveled the globe in 1987, was born on 1958-08-26.

Associated Historical Events

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Rick Hansen born?
Rick Hansen was born on 1958-08-26 (Canadian).
What is Rick Hansen known for?
Canadian athlete who traveled the globe in 1987
What historical events involved Rick Hansen?
Rick Hansen was involved in 1 recorded historical event, including Rick Hansen is born.

Related Years