Nipissing alumnus competing in Tokyo Paralympic Games
Rob Shaw, pictured at the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru (2019). Photo courtesy of: Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Let's get loud Lakers and cheer on Nipissing University alumnus, Rob Shaw (BPHE '14) as he represents Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games in the sport of wheelchair tennis.
Shaw graduated from Nipissing with a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education in 2014 and subsequently received the Nipissing University Rising Star Alumni Award in 2017. Shaw recently completed a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus in addition to training for the Games. After a tough year of training through the pandemic, Shaw said in a release, “I can't wait to test my skills against the best in the world and put all of this training into my performance. I know the Games will be unique because of Covid, but as a first time Paralympian I'm just focusing on competing.”
Shaw began playing tennis as a child. After a diving accident in his early twenties left him with a permanent spinal cord injury, Shaw took up wheelchair tennis. Persevering through a life-altering injury, Shaw has gone on to win several notable titles including the Canadian National Wheelchair Tennis Championships in 2015 and in 2019 he won the gold medal in quad singles at the Parapan American Games, defeating world No. 1 David Wagner of the U.S. in the final match. It was the first singles title for a Canadian at a major Games in either standing or wheelchair tennis.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will run from Tuesday, August 24 to Sunday, September 5, 2021. Team Canada includes 128 athletes competing in 18 sports. You can cheer on Shaw on August 28 at 10 p.m. EST. A full schedule of events, can be found here.