Earlier this month Arnold Boldt, celebrated athlete and the Learning & Teaching Division associate vice-president at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, carried in the Paralympic flag at the Opening Ceremonies of the Parapan Am Games in Toronto. Boldt carried in the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) flag with a who's who of Canadian Paralympic athletes and advocates including Tim McIsaac, Chelsey Gotell, Paul Rosen, Robert Hampson, David Shannon, Patrick Jarvis and Dr. Robert Steadward.
"It was truly an honour to be asked to join seven of my fellow athletes and para-sport advocates in carrying the APC flag at the 2015 Parapan Am Games Opening Ceremonies," says Boldt. "I had a great time reconnecting with many people that I have got to know over the past decades and meeting new people who are dedicated to the Paralympic movement."
This was just one of many highlights from Boldt's impressive athletic career. Boldt lost his right leg at the age of three in a farming accident but that didn't slow him down! A one-legged track and field sporting icon, Boldt competed in the 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992 Paralympic games winning one silver and seven gold medals. Boldt's Paralympic and World Championship high jump records set in 1980 still stand at 1.96 m and 2.04 m.
As a young adult, Boldt competed at the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU) level with able-bodied opponents while studying at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Manitoba. At a CIAU indoor meet in Winnipeg in 1981, Boldt hit a high jump mark of 2.08m.
After a 20-year hiatus from competitive sports Boldt made his para-cycling debut at the London 2012 Summer Paralympic Games, placing 8th in the individual pursuit and 12th in the individual time trial on the track.
Over the years Boldt has inspired people around the world and earned many distinguished honours including being inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame, the Terry Fox Hall of Fame and the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame.
Boldt has previously supported the Paralympic community by carrying the Canadian flag at the 1992 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremonies in Barcelona and participating in the 2010 Winter Paralympic Torch Relay in Canada.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is very lucky to have such an accomplished athlete as a member of our leadership team! Check out this video of Boldt competing in high jump in his earlier years.