Rick Hansen

Quick Facts

Full Name	Rick Hansen
Occupation	Paralympian
Date Of Birth	Aug 26, 1957(1957-08-26)
Age	67
Birthplace	Port Alberni
Country	Canada
Horoscope	Virgo

Rick Hansen Biography

Rick Hansen is one of the most popular and richest Paralympian who was born on August 26, 1957 in Port Alberni, Canada. Canadian athlete confined to a wheelchair who went on to win three gold medals in the Paralympic Games and was one of the final torchbearers in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Inspired by Terry Fox‘s run across Canada to raise awareness for cancer research, Hansen circled the entire planet in his wheelchair and raised more than $26 million for spinal cord research.

In 1980, fellow British Columbian and Canadian athlete Terry Fox, who had lost a leg to bone cancer, undertook the Marathon of Hope, intending to run across Canada from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island to raise awareness for cancer research. He made it from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Thunder Bay, Ontario, before a cancer recurrence forced him to stop, about half of the way through his journey. Inspired by Terry’s courage, Hansen decided to undertake a similar journey to prove the potential of people with disabilities and to inspire a more accessible world. But his planned path was far more ambitious: he planned to circle the world in his wheelchair.

Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Rick Hansen grew up in Williams Lake, British Columbia. As a young athlete, he had won all-star awards in five sports. He was paralyzed at the age of 15 from being in the back of a truck with his friend, when suddenly the pick up truck swerved and hit a tree. He left the bed of the truck from the impact and sustained a spinal cord injury. He worked on rehabilitation, completed high school, then became the first student with a physical disability to graduate in physical education from the University of British Columbia. Hansen won national championships on wheelchair volleyball and wheelchair basketball teams. He went on to become a world class champion wheelchair marathoner and Paralympic athlete. He competed in wheelchair racing at both the 1980 and 1984 Summer Paralympics, winning a total of three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. Hansen won 19 international wheelchair marathons, including three world championships. He also coached high school basketball and volleyball. Rick had a very close relationship with his family, especially with his father and grandfather, with whom he enjoyed frequent fishing trips.

He married Amanda Reid, his former physiotherapist, and they had three daughters: Alana, Emma, and Rebecca.

Rick Hansen Net Worth

Rick Hansen is one of the richest Paralympian from Canada. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Rick Hansen 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

He was paralyzed at age 15 when his friend crashed his pickup truck into a tree, throwing Hansen from the bed of the truck.

In his career, he won 19 international wheelchair marathons.

Richard Marvin “Rick” Hansen CC OBC (born August 26, 1957) is a Canadian track and field athlete (Paralympic Games), activist, and philanthropist for people with disabilities. Following a pickup truck accident at the age of 15, Hansen sustained a spinal cord injury and became a paraplegic. Hansen is most famous for his Man in Motion World Tour. He was inducted into the 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.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Rick Hansen height Not available right now. Rick weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Rick Hansen Dating?

According to our records, Rick Hansen married to Amanda Reid Hansen. As of December 1, 2023, Rick Hansen’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Rick Hansen. You may help us to build the dating records for Rick Hansen!

Hansen and his wife Amanda Reid first met during his Man in Motion World Tour as she was his physiotherapist. They married in 1987 and have three daughters.

Facts & Trivia

Rick Ranked on the list of most popular Paralympian. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in Canada. Rick Hansen celebrates birthday on August 26 of every year.

Hansen was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada on June 29, 1987. His citation reads:

How did Rick Hansen became disabled?

June 27, 1973. On the way home from a fishing trip, Rick and his friend Don Alder are in a car accident and are thrown from the back of a pickup truck. Rick injures his spinal cord and is paralyzed from the waist down.

What did Rick Hansen do for Canada?

In the 1980s, Rick Hansen won six Paralympic medals and three world championships in wheelchair racing. He was named Canada’s Disabled Athlete of the Year three times and, in 1983, received the Lou Marsh Trophy for Canadian Outstanding Athlete of the Year — an honour he shared with Wayne Gretzky.

Was Rick Hansen friends with Terry Fox?

Rick and Terry were teammates and friends , travelling together for wheelchair basketball tournaments and marathons. They also trained together to improve their skills and stamina.

What did Rick Hansen do for the world?

Rick is best known as the “Man In Motion” for his epic 26-month, 34 country, 40,000 km wheelchair trip around the world to make the world inclusive for people with disabilities and to find a cure for paralysis.

Does Rick Hansen kids?

Children