Karen Blachford

Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 12th, 2009

Karen Blachford grew up in Brockville, attended Toniata Public School and then BCI before heading off to University. It was in London that Karen was diagnosed with MS. Not one to give up, she would begin to try wheelchair sports.

Starting with baseball, playing with kids from there, her career is a tale of awards. In 1998, she was a provincial five-time golf medalist in track & field in 1999, a provincial champion and six-time gold medalist. In 2000, she was named London’s Sports Person of the Year and the 1999 Female Athlete of the Year at the Kitchener Athletic Awards Banquet. She was also the Provincial Champion and a six-time gold medalist in 2001. She achieved her certified level 2 hockey official. In 2002, she won a silver medal at the world championships in Switzerland. In 2004 and 2005, gold medals at the Canadian National Wheelchair Curling Championships and in 2006, a gold medal at the Winter Paralympic Games in Italy.

Karen continues to compete and inspire disabled people throughout the world.