Join us on the ground in Montreal for exclusive coverage of Défi Sportif, Canada’s largest multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities.
Join us on the ground in Montreal for exclusive coverage of Défi Sportif, Canada’s largest multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities. In this episode of Para Sport Nation, host Alex Smyth takes you inside the action—from elite competitions to first-time youth athletes experiencing the thrill of sport and inclusion. We sit down with Maxime Gagnon, President and CEO of Défi Sportif AlterGo, to talk about the event’s evolution, its grassroots to high-performance reach, and his personal journey leading the charge. Paralympian and event ambassador Jonathan Vermette shares his story of inspiration, competition, and why this event holds a lifelong place in his heart. We also hear from high school athletes experiencing Défi Sportif for the first time. Whether you’re an athlete, parent, fan, or advocate, this episode celebrates the power of para sport to unite and inspire. Défi Sportif is more than a sporting event—it’s a movement of inclusion and celebration. In this episode: • Maxime Gagnon reflects on 31 years of growth at Défi Sportif, now the biggest inclusive multi-sport event in Canada, welcoming athletes of all levels and abilities. • He shares how universal accessibility and dedicated volunteers make the event successful, and how other provinces are looking to replicate the model. • Paralympian Jonathan Vermette, now an ambassador, shares his 21-year connection to Défi Sportif, from discovering wheelchair basketball at age 12 to competing in Paris 2024. • We meet Brienne and Brianna, two high school students playing soccer for the first time at Défi Sportif, showing the joy and impact of inclusive youth sports.