This Summer, as Canada’s elite athletes ready for an exciting new chapter, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Pfizer Canada are honouring Canada’s Paralympic athletes with a free, inspirational e-book, narrated by fencer Pierre Mainville.

Starting on June 27, parents, teachers and families can download Kids of Action, a free online book dedicated to Canada’s Summer Paralympic team.  Audio formats of the book and e-book versions will also be available starting June 27 online at morethanmedication.ca and through a link at paralympic.ca.

With a series of achievements in 2010, Pierre Mainville is a happy man. He is particularly proud of finishing in third place at the epee event in the World Championships attended by his family. This feat made him the first medal-winning Canadian in the World Wheelchair Fencing Championships.

It is quite an achievement in itself, but since Canada does not have much of a background in wheelchair fencing, I became the first one to reach such a high ranking. I am even happier to know I am not the last one… Well, I hope not!, he exclaimed laughing. But most importantly, I was lucky enough to experience these great moments with my wife and daughter at my side.

Mainville has definitely become a master in his sport after 9 years as a fencer. Even though he fights alone in his wheelchair during competition, this athlete from Saint-Colomban recognizes the value of team work in training. I would never have reached such a high level without my fencing masters. They are the key to my success. They teach me how to fight, how to prepare for war. Without their wise advice, I would not be the athlete I am now. I spend so much time training with them that they are practically family now.

Mainville has made it to the summit through perseverance, intense training and perfectionism. I invest all effort necessary in order to have no regrets later on. As an athlete, I always strive to learn from defeat. My view is that a loser is someone who gives defeats and a winner is someone who learns from defeats.

Pierre became paraplegic in 2001 after being hit by a bullet from a sniper. Since this horrible tragedy, the 38-year-old athlete is living life to its fullest. I truly thought my time had come, but after the event, I gave myself to my sport entirely. Thanks to fencing, I manage to go ahead in life. I am now the proud father of a little girl and my wife is expecting a boy.

In order to encourage people who have recently become paraplegic to practise a sport, Pierre Mainville is touring rehabilitation centers and giving conferences in schools and different companies. I want to share my drive and happiness, as well as the passion I have for my sport. I obviously attract attention when I make a demonstration in rehabilitation centers. The main purpose of it, however, is to pass on the importance of sports in life.

The wheelchair fencer is training as hard as ever in order to make the selection for the London 2012 Paralympics, despite the expected birth of his son in April.

When he is born, I will take a few days off, but as soon as the daily routine is established, I will focus on training to be ready for the Paralympics. I would like to better my ranking while working on my technique, declared the athlete, ranked 9th in epee and 17th in sabre at the 2008 Beijing Games.