Striving Forward

“Not only is sport amazing, but through it, I have the ability to help people experience the benefits of inclusive sport opportunities.” - Adam Purdy    

By David Grossman

People set priorities for many reasons, and Adam Purdy is no different.

He was born with arthrogryposis. While growing up, he expanded his knowledge about an impairment that reduced his muscle capacity in both his arms and his legs.

While Purdy has gone on to fame in the pool as one of Canada’s top swim athletes, his proudest moments in life include family, swim awards, and an interesting career in games and event management software.

Purdy appreciates when people ask him for his thoughts and perspective – especially when it relates to engaging and bringing awareness to people who have constraints, limitations or a human condition that is unique and diverse. He’s not a big fan of the term “disability”.

The diminished muscle capacity associated with his physical limitation also hasn’t disrupted his journey to be among the best.

A sport consultant and passionate individual with a well-structured and inspiring work ethic, Purdy breaks from career obligations with some fun and relaxation. For him, now retired from competitive swimming himself, one of those things has been volunteer coaching of the swim team at H.B. Beal Secondary School in his hometown of London, Ont.

“There are several students with physical and intellectual impairments on the (school) team and it makes me proud to see athletes of all abilities, competing and doing their best,” said Purdy. “Not only is sport amazing, but I have the ability to help people experience the benefits of inclusive sport opportunities.”

Always in his mind, Purdy motivates people with a few personal words of choice – recognize your ability and then be better.

Inducted into the Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame in 2017 and, a year later, the London Sports Hall of Fame, swimming did more for Purdy than win him medals and recognition.

“My defining moment was, at the age of nine, when I went with a friend to the London YMCA,” he recalled. “We went to register for swim sessions and there was something about signing up for a disabled team. My friend told me to do so and I hesitated, then thought about shrugging it off.

“My nine-year old mind didn’t understand what a “disabled team” meant and there was no concept of what that was. It sounded strange to me. I knew everyone had limitations. For me, disability wasn’t a social thing, it was a medical thing.”

It was at that moment that Purdy said he realized he was different.

“I’ve not only learned from those days, but want to continue to improve services for those who have physical and intellectual impairments,” he said. “It’s not only the right thing to do, but policy makers, sport administrators, and coaches need to do more – to be more inclusive.”

Purdy was one of the first participants in the London Lightning Bolts para swim team, which his father Ken helped develop with assistance from the Thames Valley Centre and the London YMCA. He then went on to continue his swimming career with the London Aquatic Club.

For Purdy, competitive swimming hit the big time in 1994. At age 13, he placed sixth in the 100-metre backstroke at the first IPC World Championship held in Malta. Two years later, he participated in five events at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics.

Since those intriguing early days of attending St. Anthony’s Elementary School, then Regina Mundi College, swim success was becoming rousing and enchanting for Purdy.

With great memories of his competitive days in the pool, Purdy has endless stories about some 12 international medals in every color. At IPC World Championships in 1998 in New Zealand and at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, Purdy was a double champ, setting several world records.

Intense training and competition were taking its toll and Purdy decided it was time to retire from the competitive scene in 2007 after three Paralympic Games, feeling he was all done, burned out and exhausted.

But in 2013, doing administrative work during the Canada Games in Sherbrooke, a thought clicked. A year later, it came to fruition. Toronto was hosting the 2015 Para Pan Am Games. There was an opportunity for him to compete in a major international competition right in his home country, and in front of his family and friends.

Seven years had passed since Purdy thought he had swam his last competitive race, but a talented and determined individual still had lots of spark and energy. How would he do? Purdy was willing to take the gamble.

Purdy would add to his collection of awards with three more medals in Toronto. He won a silver medal in the 100-metre backstroke and added a pair of bronze medals in the 50-metre butterfly, and as a member of the mixed 4 x 50-metre freestyle relay.

Purdy earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. Very special to him, he realized that he may have also been the first student athlete with a disability to join the Golden Hawks athletic program. In 2002, he was Laurier’s Rookie of the Year.

It was then off to the University of Prince Edward Island to do a graduate program and learn about applied health services research. Purdy returned home and is now working towards a graduate degree in Sport Leadership and Management at Western University.

Purdy, who has the distinct honor of being chosen eight times as Swim Ontario’s Para Athlete of the Year, has been fortunate to witness the evolution of parasport in Canada.

“Attitudes have to continuously change for the better, and they are when it comes down to being an inclusive society. But people’s attitudes have to be enlightened towards diminishing ableist constraints, while enhancing social participation opportunities for people living with impairment.”

Purdy is convinced that the Canadian sport system, can continue to be boosted through parasport awareness initiatives. The younger generation can learn and be engaged even more and there’s no limit to knowledge and opportunities.

“Through sport, we have the ability to change, inspire, motivate and get more people with impairments active, involved and enjoying the success that I have experienced,” said Purdy. “We all need to strive to do things better.”

David Grossman is a veteran award-winning Journalist, Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 45+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.