Jeff Adams

Jeff Adams is a Canadian Paralympic athlete and six-time World Champion in wheelchair racing. Adams began using a wheelchair at age nine after radiation therapy for childhood cancer resulted in permanent spinal cord damage. His early experiences with disability and sport led him to develop a unique approach to wheelchair racing, viewing his wheelchair as athletic equipment and exploring new ways to achieve his potential in adaptive sports.

Adams competed in six consecutive Summer Paralympics, earning three gold, four silver, and six bronze medals. At the Seoul Paralympics, he won bronze in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter events. He later secured gold in the 1,500-meter and 800-meter races, silver in the 400-meter event, and bronze in the 5,000-meter race and 4x100 relay. Adams is also a two-time Olympian and a former world record holder in the 1,500-meter men's wheelchair event.

In addition to his athletic career, Adams has been active in disability advocacy and accessibility. He has served as a spokesperson, journalist, and media commentator, using his platform to promote accessibility and equality for people with disabilities. Adams climbed all 1,776 steps of the CN Tower in a specially designed wheelchair to raise awareness for accessibility. He has held leadership roles, including Chair of the Accessibility Committee for the Toronto Olympic Bid Committee and Chair of the Ontarians with Disability Advisory Council. Adams appeared on the CBC reality show "Dragons' Den," which led to a partnership with manufacturer Multimatic to produce wheelchairs designed by his company ICON.

After retiring from competition, Adams founded two medical device engineering companies before studying law at Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the Ontario Bar and works at Fasken Martineau LLP, specializing in labor, employment, and human rights law. Adams is a member of the Order of Ontario and serves as Chair of the Customer Service Standards Development Committee, reviewing the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and advising the Minister.

Adams has been inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, Athletics Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, and Brampton Sports Hall of Fame. As a keynote speaker, Adams shares insights from his experiences in adaptive sports, entrepreneurship, and law, emphasizing resilience, accessibility, and inclusion in his presentations to audiences across industries.