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Rick Hansen

Rick Hansen is a Canadian Paralympic athlete, disability advocate, and philanthropist.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Rick Hansen is a Canadian Paralympic athlete, disability advocate, and philanthropist. He is best known for the Man in Motion World Tour, a wheelchair journey around the world that raised awareness and funds for accessibility and spinal cord injury research. Hansen later founded the Rick Hansen Foundation to continue this work.

Early life and injury

Rick Hansen was born in 1957 in Port Alberni, British Columbia. At age 15, he sustained a spinal cord injury in a vehicle accident, leaving him paralysed from the waist down. This injury led him to pursue wheelchair sport and disability advocacy.

Athletic career

Hansen became a prominent wheelchair racer and competed for Canada at the 1984 Summer Paralympics. He won multiple international wheelchair marathons and earned several Paralympic medals.

Man in Motion World Tour

Hansen's signature achievement was the Man in Motion World Tour, a wheelchair journey around the world from 1985 to 1987. The tour aimed to raise funds and public awareness for accessibility, spinal cord research, and the abilities of people with disabilities.

Advocacy and legacy

Hansen founded the Rick Hansen Foundation in 1988 to advance accessibility and disability inclusion. His foundation has had major influence on accessibility and inclusion initiatives across Canada. He is recognized as one of Canada's best-known disability-rights advocates.

Key facts

  • Hansen suffered a spinal cord injury at age 15 in a vehicle accident, leaving him paralysed from the waist down.
  • He became a successful wheelchair racer and represented Canada at the 1984 Summer Paralympics.
  • He completed the Man in Motion World Tour from 1985 to 1987 to raise awareness of disability and accessibility issues.
  • He founded the Rick Hansen Foundation in 1988 to continue advocacy and accessibility work.
  • He is recognized as one of Canada's best-known disability-rights advocates.
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Canadian context

Rick Hansen is one of Canada’s best-known Paralympians and disability advocates, and his foundation has had major influence on accessibility and inclusion initiatives across Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Rick Hansen?
Rick Hansen is a Canadian Paralympic athlete and disability-rights advocate known for his wheelchair racing achievements and the Man in Motion World Tour.
What is the Man in Motion World Tour?
It was Hansen's two-year wheelchair journey around the world from 1985 to 1987, created to raise awareness and funds for accessibility and spinal cord injury research.
What sport did Rick Hansen compete in?
He competed in wheelchair racing and track and field at the Paralympic level.
What is the Rick Hansen Foundation?
It is a charitable organization Hansen founded in 1988 to promote accessibility, inclusion, and support for people with disabilities.
What injury did Rick Hansen have?
He suffered a spinal cord injury in his teens after a vehicle accident, which left him paralysed from the waist down.
Why is Rick Hansen significant in Canada?
He is widely recognized for combining athletic achievement with public advocacy for accessibility and disability rights.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Hansen
    Supports: Birth date, full name, athletic background, Man in Motion World Tour, and foundation overview.
  2. The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/rick-hansen
    Supports: Canadian biography, Paralympic medals, wheelchair marathons, and Man in Motion World Tour.
  3. Speak Truth to Power Canada — https://sttpcanada.ctf-fce.ca/lessons/rick-hansen/bio/
    Supports: Early life, injury, UBC graduation, athletic achievements, tour, and foundation.
  4. Canadian Museum of History — https://www.historymuseum.ca/shaping-canada/rick-hansen/
    Supports: Role as disability rights advocate, Olympian/Paralympian, and Man in Motion World Tour.
  5. Carleton University — https://carleton.ca/senate/honorary-degree-guidelines-and-nominations/rick-hansen/
    Supports: Tour distance, fundraising, and honours including Order of Canada and Order of British Columbia.