Stéphanie Dixon
Quick Facts
Biography
Stephanie Dixon (born February 10, 1984) is a Canadian swimmer. Prior to the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, Dixon had accumulated fifteen Paralympic medals and is considered to be one of the best swimmers with a disability in the world.
Born missing her right leg and hip, she began to swim at the age of two. At the age of 13, she began competitive swimming against athletes without disabilities. At the age of 14, she joined Canada's national Paralympic team. She uses underarm crutches.
She earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of Victoria.
Sporting career
She represented Canada at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, at the age of 16, and won five gold medals. With 5 golds, she set the Canadian record for most golds at a single Games. Representing her country again at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, she won one gold, six silver, and one bronze, In the ParaPan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, she won 7 gold medals. She participated in the Paralympic Games for the third time in Beijing in 2008.
Dixon has also won several medals and set several world records at World Championships and at the Commonwealth Games.
She has been added to the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame.