Few strived and overcame obstacles like Clayton Gerein did as an athlete and in July his passion for sports and success was honoured as he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Regina.
Gerein was born in North Battleford May 24, 1964 and passed away Jan. 22, 2010. He left behind a long list of accomplishments as someone who suffered a broken neck at the age of 18.
Gerein never let his injury slow down his passion for sports and two years after the accident he competed in his first of seven Paralympics. There he competed as a swimmer, but later transformed into one of the most prominent wheelchair racers of all time.
From North Battleford, Gerein spent a year in Regina and later moved to Pilot Butte with his wife where they settled and raised two daughters.
According to Gerein's family, some of his most proud accomplishments as an athlete were his 13 Paralympic medals. Gerein was a 12-time winner of the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Ga. He set world records in nearly every distance of racing he competed in, including a Canadian marathon record. Three times, Gerein won the Sask. Sport Male Athlete of the Year. He was a recipient of the 125th anniversary of Canadian Confederation Commemorative Medal for significant contribution to Canada.
Gerein also had the opportunity to carry the Olympic torch two weeks before he passed away in a Regina hospital after dealing with a brain tumour. Carrying the torch was believed to be something extremely special to him and for all his accomplishments, the Battlefords, Pilot Butte and all of Saskatchewan are proud of him.
Gerein was one of nine individuals inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, and he was inducted at the same time four local football players were inducted as members of the 1996 Saskatoon Hilltops.
