Earle Connor

Earle had his left leg amputated above the knee at just three months old. But he never shied away from sports, even when it might draw attention to his disability.

When a neighbourhood friend signed up for youth hockey, Earle was right there beside him. Eventually, he became the first disabled athlete to be drafted into the WHL.

While watching the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics on television, he was motivated to start training for the 100m. Within the year, Earle was the Canadian Disabled Athlete of the Year and had set his first 100m World Record. A triumphant Paralympic gold soon followed in Sydney 2000 and he added a second gold in Beijing 2008.

With a lifetime undefeated streak in the 100m, including 18 World Record performances, he’s had to rethink his goals and consider the impossible — breaking the 12-second barrier.

Today, 12-seconds has become more than symbolic. It’s a transcendent moment in disabled sport looking for someone bold enough to chase it…