Today, it gives me the distinct pleasure to rise in the House and to welcome to Queen’s Park two-time Paralympian and Canadian record holder Marissa Papaconstantinou, along with her parents, Bill and Kathy, and boyfriend, Justyn.

Marissa was born and raised in the riding of Scarborough Centre and trained at Scarborough’s Phoenix track club. She was born without a right foot but, at the age of 12, she fell in love with track after being fitted for her first running prosthetic blade at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, for whom she is currently a proud ambassador.

Marissa represented our country at numerous international competitions, including the 2016 summer Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro at the tender age of 16. Despite tough losses and injuries earlier in her career, her resilience, focus and hard work helped her qualify for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, where she won a bronze medal in the women’s T64 100-metre race with a personal best and Canadian record of 13.07 seconds. In addition, she also set the Canadian record with a 27.08 second run in the 200-metre event.

Marissa, I am very proud of what you have accomplished thus far. I’m eager and hopeful to look into the future of all the great things you still have to come. Thank you very much for being here, and I look forward to meeting you at the end of—

Applause.