Humboldt Broncos crash survivor Jacob Wassermann makes Paralympic rowing debut

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River Hawk
September 1, 2024 (11:50 PM)

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Years after surviving the tragic Humboldt Broncos crash, former goaltender Jacob Wasserman made his Paralympics rowing debut.

The Humboldt Broncos crash is widely considered one of the most horrific tragedies of recent hockey history. Among the 29 on the bus, only 13 survived, including former goaltender Jacob Wassermann. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down in the incident, he decided not to give up on sports, taking up rowing.

"It is a very freeing experience to get out of the chair, and the chair gets left at the dock and I'm doing something that not everybody else is able to do, right?"

This was already an inspiring story for fans who experienced the news of the crash, but Jacob Wassermann did not stop at doing the sport as a hobby or exercise. Reports recently announced that the 24-year-old would become part of a greater stage in the sport. Just 6 years after the crash and a year-and-a-half in the sport, he was set to make his debut in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, representing Canada in Men's Single Sculls.

Now, Jacob Wassermann officially made his Paralympics debut, becoming a major source of pride for all of Canada and global hockey fans. He placed 6th in his first heat, and after the repechage, he qualified for Final B. Afterward, he made a strong finish to 4th place, which was met with thunderous applause from the crowd who knew his story.

With less than two years of experience and a Paralympic performance under his belt, Jacob Wassermann is already looking forward to a comeback in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. With another four years of training and development, hopefully, he can take home the gold for Canada.