There’s an air of cool about Zak Madell that one might not expect from a man who’s got the sort of expectations he has on his shoulders.
The Okotoks, Alta., wheelchair rugby star — a sport where athletes must have a disability that impacts both their arms and legs to be eligible to play — is touted as the best in the world by many, in a game that was created by the country he represents.
Canada, however, has never won gold at the Paralympic Games despite inventing the sport in Winnipeg in 1977.
Madell won a lot of medals wearing Canadian colours, including a silver medal at the Paralympic Games in London in 2012, a gold at the Parapan American Games in 2015 and two silvers in the same tournament in 2019 and 2023.
One accolade, however, is still outstanding — and he’s on a mission to change that at his fourth Paralympic Games.
Madell’s got his sights set at gold medal glory in Paris, but he’s going about the pressure of ultimate victory like it’s business as usual.
“I just go out and do the job that is asked of me by the coaches,” he said. “We have a team that all buy into performing their roles at a very high calibre.”
When he was 10, Madell lost his legs and fingers because of a septic staph infection. After his recovery, he got into sledge hockey before he was recruited into wheelchair rugby and rose to stardom in the sport.
He earned MVP awards at the 2014 world wheelchair rugby championships, the 2014 Canada Cup international wheelchair rugby tournament and the 2015 world wheelchair rugby challenge.
After finishing second in tournament scoring at the Tokyo games in 2021, Madell will look to lead Canada and its game to the top of the Paralympic podium in Paris for the first time in the country’s history.
CBC Calgary spoke with Madell ahead of the games in Paris. The following has been edited for length and clarity:
How’d you get involved in the sport?
I first tried wheelchair rugby in a gym in Winnipeg in 2011. Duncan Campbell, one of the founders of the sport, recruited me for a prospect camp they were hosting for the national team. I fell in love with the sport and a month later I was on the national team working my way to the London [2012] Paralympic games.
What does wheelchair rugby mean to you?
We take a lot of pride in the fact that wheelchair rugby originated in Canada. Because of that, we try to continue to build our legacy and are aiming to get Canada back on the podium.
You’ve publicly said that you’ve “cheated death twice.” What do you mean by that?
When I was initially admitted to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in 2004 I was on life support and not expected to make it on several occasions. Fast forward to 2011 when I had another operation, during which my heart stopped and I had to receive CPR and chest compressions for more than 10 minutes. Luckily I was too resilient to be ready to leave this amazing world behind, so here I am enjoying life one day at a time with a smile on my face.
You’ve been nicknamed “the Kid.” Where did that come from?
It started because I was the youngest by far when I first made the team, but I feel like this still has some relevance due to the light-hearted approach that I take to rugby and everyday living.
What did your journey to these Paralympic Games look like?
It has been a long one. Training included five to six days a week, training one or two times per day, resting, honing the physical and mental skills, ensuring that we take care of our bodies with regular massage, treatment, ice baths and other methods. Sleep may be the most important of all, especially leading into the games.
What was it like landing in France knowing you’re there to represent Canada at the world stage?
Every time we put on the maple leaf jersey we know that we are representing our nation, and want to do so with pride. This is for all of the people back home who have supported us on our journeys. Hopefully we can recruit a few new lifelong fans in the process as well.
How do you think Canada will do during these games?
This is the best the team has looked in a very long time and it seems like everything is coming together at the perfect time. However there are seven other teams there who also have their eye on a gold medal, so nothing is going to be easy and nothing is given at these events.
Team Canada starts its Paralympic wheelchair rugby tournament with a game against its rival U.S. on Thursday, followed by a matchup against Germany the day after. The team then takes on Japan on Saturday in the third and final game of group play. The rest of the schedule will be determined based on the outcome of the opening round.