From the starting line to the history books
Trevor Klassen, a 39-year-old athlete from Abbotsford, British Columbia, has never let cerebral palsy define his boundaries.
When Klassen joined Special Olympics in 2020, he set his sights on track and field — a transition that demanded an extraordinary personal transformation. To fit into a specialized racing wheelchair, Trevor overhauled his lifestyle, adopted a strict diet, and shed 60 pounds through pure determination.
That intense drive didn't just transform his body; it completely inspired his 1-on-1 coach, Josh Goosen.
"When I realized how hard he works, I'm like, 'I need to step my game up,'” said Goosen. “Because if he's this committed, I have to be committed."
Trevor’s determination has paid off. At the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, he won two silver medals and one bronze.
His next major goal is qualifying for the World Games in Santiago, Chile. Trevor and his teammate-turned-competitor, Tyler LeFebvre, currently make up "Team Trailblazer" — the only two wheelchair track and field athletes in their region's Special Olympics history. When Tyler beat Trevor by about a second to take gold in a recent race, Trevor wasn't upset; he was genuinely thrilled for his teammate.
For Trevor, ultimate victory comes from the success of the team rather than individual spotlight.
"It's about the team, not myself," Trevor emphasized.
Coach Klassen echoes that sentiment, recalling how deeply moved he was by Trevor's reaction.
"Trevor's such a good man, and he's such a great team member, and he has this level of sportsmanship like I've never seen. He was so happy for Tyler, even though he knew he wasn't gonna get the gold anymore."
Lining up at the starting mark for the first time wasn't easy. Trevor admits he was nervous when he first began because he didn't know what to expect. Today, simply by competing, working hard, and having fun, he is paving the way for other wheelchair users who might feel hesitant or believe sports aren't an option for them.
Josh believes Trevor's impact extends far beyond his medal count.
"I think Trevor's really gonna convince a lot of people who maybe are in wheelchairs right now who think they can't do something, they can't come out here and compete. Well, he's obviously changed that for the future."
For anyone sitting on the fence or feeling anxious about taking the leap into Special Olympics, Trevor offers no complex speeches, just direct, heartfelt encouragement born from experience.
“I was nervous, too. I didn't know what I was getting into… Just do it!”
— story by Madisson Pasicka
Tyler LeFebvre (right)
