André Viger

André Viger

Viger after his victory in the men's wheelchair division of the 1984 Boston Marathon
Personal information
Born	(1952-09-27)September 27, 1952 Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Died	October 1, 2006(2006-10-01) (aged 54)
Sport
Sport	Paralympic athletics
Medal record Paralympic athletics Representing Canada Paralympic Games 1984 Stoke Mandeville Marathon 3 1988 Seoul Marathon 3 1992 Barcelona 10,000m TW3-4 1988 Seoul 10,000m 3 1992 Barcelona 4x100m relay TW3-4 1992 Barcelona 4x400m relay TW3-4 1980 Arnhem 4x100m relay 2-5 1984 Stoke Mandeville 1500m 3 1988 Seoul 800m 3 1988 Seoul 5000m 3

André Viger, OC CQ (September 27, 1952 – October 1, 2006) was a French Canadian wheelchair marathoner and Paralympian. He took part in five consecutive Summer Paralympic Games in athletics from 1980 to 1996, winning a total of three gold, three silver and four bronze medals.

Biography

Born in Windsor, Ontario, Viger grew up in Sherbrooke, Quebec. He lost the use of his legs following a traffic accident at age 20. He won the men's wheelchair division of the Boston Marathon in 1984, 1986 and 1987. In 1987, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec. In 1989, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for being "a source of encouragement for young athletes and a role model for young people everywhere". In 1993, he was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame, and in 2005, the Paralympic Hall of Fame.

After retiring from athletics, he began a career as a businessman and started a wheelchair manufacturing company. He died of cancer on October 1, 2006.

In 2013, Viger was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

External links

• André Viger at the International Paralympic Committee
• André Viger at the Canadian Paralympic Committee
• André Viger at Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
• André Viger at Olympedia (archive)