Humboldt Broncos survivor Jacob Wassermann rising to para rowing stardom
Photo credit: Daily Mail
Jacob Wassermann survived the tragic Humboldt Broncos hockey team bus crash and is now becoming one of the best rowers in the history of Para sports.
Jacob Wassermann is just days away from representing Canada in Para rowing at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, yet the reality hasn't fully set in. For the 24-year-old, simply reaching this point feels like a major accomplishment.
"The fact that I've been able to get this far and be able to go out there is a pretty big accomplishment in my book already," he said after clambering out of his boat on an early morning rowing practice at Regina's Wascana Lake.
Six years ago, Jacob Wassermann was recovering from the tragic 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite the life-altering injury, giving up on sports was never an option. His passion for athletics led him to try rowing nearly two years ago at the Saskatoon Rowing Club, where he discovered a new challenge and quickly excelled.
"You gotta be a little bit crazy, I think, to be a rower [and] to enjoy some of the pain that comes with it," he said. "But it's a bit of a thrill to be out there and on the water and doing things that I wasn't doing before I was injured. I wouldn't have been able to do something like this before."
In March, Jacob Wassermann surprised himself by winning a silver medal at an international event in Rio de Janeiro, securing his spot in the Paralympics PR1 men's single event. The unexpected success has driven him and his coaching team to intensify their training efforts.
Jacob Wassermann's journey to the Paralympics has been supported by his wife, his family, and his former Humboldt Broncos teammates, who will be cheering him on in Paris. He acknowledges that the bus crash will always be a part of his story, but he and his teammates are focused on their own paths to success.
As he prepares for the Games in Paris, France, Jacob Wassermann is grateful for the overwhelming support he's received from Canadians and is determined to make them proud. He truly loves Canada.
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23 AOUT | 43 ANSWERS Humboldt Broncos survivor Jacob Wassermann rising to para rowing stardom Will you be watching the Para Olympic games? | ||
| Yes | 14 | 32.6 % |
| No | 29 | 67.4 % |
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