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The Paralympics made everybody ‘look at me as a strong, independent person’. This are the words of one of the world’s best Paralympic athletes, Chantal Petitclerc.

Petitclerc is the only Canadian to medal at the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games and still holds the world records for the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m.

Through her experiences, Petitclerc learned about various communities, as well as how decisions are made at the national level through her work as a Senator in Canadian Parliament.

She told Sportshour’s Nishat Ladha how the Paralympics changed her life and how she’s now using her position to further improve experiences within various communities.

Photo: Paralympic athlete Chantal Petitclerc poses with the Laureus trophy during the Laureus World Sports Awards on May 16, 2005 at the Estoril Casino, Estoril, Portugal. (Credit: Getty Images for Laureus)