A Mexican-Canadian competitor, Gustafson’s accomplishments include many Para sports, including track and field, swimming, archery, athletics, and table tennis. She moved to Canada in 1981, and represented the country at the 1984 Summer Games.

As a child in Mexico, Gustafson became sick with polio, after which she required a wheelchair to get around–though she claims she never let her disability impact her love of sports. “I feel better mentally and physically when I do all kinds of sports,” she said. After watching a group of wheelchair basketball players at the National Rehabilitation Institution in Mexico City, Gustafson was inspired to join the team. The event also fueled her love for Para sport, she said.

In terms of her achievements, in total, Gustafson has won twelve Paralympic medals, for both Canada and Mexico. This includes a combination of five golds at the 1976 and 1980 Summer Games. After moving to Canada, she wore the maple leaf at the 1984 and 1988 Games. Competing in athletics, swimming, and table tennis, she increased her medal count to 19, including 12 gold and seven silver medals. This achievement ranks her “as Canada’s second most-decorated Paralympian.” She also competed in the 1988 Paralympic Games, though she did not win a medal. In 2011, she won bronze in shot put at the IPC Athletic Championships where her throw made a Canadian record. That same year she won gold at the Canadian Track and Field Championships.

An inspiration to all, Gustafson was nominated by the Ontario Sports Awards for Female Athlete of the Year in 2010.  She was also nominated for Team Canada’s International Paralympic Committee in 2011.

“Compete against yourself,” she once said, and you “always try to do your best.”

Eternally active, you can find Gustafson today competing in either wheelchair rugby or curling at the Peterborough Curling Club.